David Powell has been named Omnitrans’ outstanding employee for the second quarter of 2020.
A building maintenance mechanic, Powell designed plexiglass driver barriers that reduce contact between coach operators and customers, according to a statement on the agency’s website.
Powell’s design, which is being used on more than 120 buses, helped San Bernardino County’s largest public transit agency get through the early stages of COVID-19.
By June 1, Omnitrans was able to resume front-door boarding.
“One of my favorite things about working at Omnitrans is getting to fabricate things,” said Powell in the statement. “When I was approached by management to see if we could create a barrier in-house that met safety standards, I was happy to start working on a prototype.”