Scott Jester always wanted to work at Metro Transit—but first, he had to work up to it.

"When I started driving a school bus right after I graduated, I knew I wanted to move to Metro Transit eventually," Scott said. "I’d always been a bus rider growing up, and transit just felt like the right path."

In 1990, he started as a part-time operator at the Old Snelling Garage then went full-time, working at Nicollet, Heywood, and North Loop garages. He stayed for 34 years for one simple reason: "I love meeting new people, whether it’s passengers or new operators,” he said. “That’s what has kept me going all these years."

The people made his job so interesting that he once suggested a psychology student write a paper about her experience on his bus. “The professor said it was one of the best papers he had ever read,” Scott said.

Scott also saw technology evolve from old steel buses with no power steering to electric buses. He even helped train the first operators to use them. "The evolution of the buses has been incredible," he reflected. “I’m proud to have helped launch the electric buses on the C Line.”

Despite these advances, Scott says the core of the job remains the same: getting people safely from point A to point B. "Your job as a driver is to make sure your passengers have a safe and comfortable ride," he said. "If I can get you from the start to the end of your ride without any issues, I’ve done my job."

He particularly enjoyed showcasing this to a reporter covering distracted driving. At one point, he predicted a reckless driver’s move before it happened. Later, the reporter dozed off during the smooth ride and apologized, but he reassured her, “That’s the best compliment a bus driver can get. If I put you to sleep, that means I gave you a safe, comfortable ride.”

In 2014, he became an instructor, training new drivers. "This has been the most rewarding part of my career," Scott said. "It’s great to see someone learn and succeed. I want my students to have the same career I’ve had here."

Scott also reflected on challenges, including shifts in public perception of bus drivers. "It’s tougher out there today," he acknowledged. "But I always tell new drivers not to take anything personally. Just smile and keep going."

As he leaves, it’s what kept him here 34 years that he’ll miss most. "I’ll miss working with all the great people at Metro Transit,” he said.

In retirement, Scott plans to travel, beginning with an RV tour of the Southwest and a trip to Portugal with his wife.