After 35 years behind the wheel, Tyler Stoutenburg is parking his bus for the last time. 

"I only planned to stay a short time," Tyler said. "But after marriage and kids, I decided to stick with it—and the years just went by." 

That decision led to a career spanning three and a half decades, full of many different experiences, like the infamous Halloween blizzard. "It was a tough time, but we managed," he said. 

His career wasn’t without challenges. "Not every day was great," he admitted. But anytime he thought about pursuing another job, he remembered a past job hauling garbage. "That job was brutal," he said. 

Tyler started part-time at Ruter, then moved to full-time at the Old Snelling Garage, then East Metro, and finally Heywood. In 2019, he pursued leadership training and briefly became an assistant manager. The position was temporary, so after completing the leadership academy, he returned to his previous role. 

His favorite routes included routes 61 and 71, and he truly enjoyed having a varied schedule instead of the daily surprises of working extra board. "I liked switching things up, so I didn’t get bored," he said. "I didn’t want the same monotonous routine." 

As he leaves Metro Transit, Tyler expresses his gratitude for the friendships he made over the years. "It’s been an incredible journey," he said. "I’ll miss the people, but I’m ready for the next chapter." 

In retirement, Tyler plans to finish building his lake home, fish, ride ATVs, and travel to parks across the country. "The world is full of opportunities when every day is like a Saturday," he said.