Rydstrom retired last week after more than 40 years with Metro. He had many jobs there, including driving buses, fielding customer complaints and winning the transit agency’s largest advertising contract as its marketing director. When you retired were you one of the last of the original employees?
The best we can figure, there’s probably eight or 10 folks within the 10,000 employees who have 40 or more years.
In that time, did you visit every one of the 86 stations?
Oh, definitely … I actually have attended every single one of the openings from the very beginning. I’m certainly looking forward to whenever the Wiehle Avenue station — or whatever name they decide to call it — opens in 2013, or ’14 or whenever they get it built.
What’s the most interesting job you had at Metro?
Certainly one of the most rewarding was being a bus driver. The human interaction, the ability to go to work and be able to do a job and have some immediate feedback on having done something.
Any surprising things that happened to you in the course of 40 years?
Not only have I been to all 86 station but I’ve probably been under the platform at most of the 86 stations when we were actually out there installing pay telephones. It’s quite an experience.
What’s it like underneath?
It’s dark. In a lot of places it’s very wet. There are living creatures down there. Little furry creatures.
How little are the little furry creatures?
Not as big as some stories would have told. But they’re good sized. Standard rat size.
Looking ahead, what would you want for Metro’s future?
I guess the pat answer would be a stable funding source. But then you have to be stewards of the money you’re given. I think maybe the necessary funds and the ability to use that funding very wisely. – Kytja Weir
