Bates Area Civic Association

District Government “Monster Trucks”
Compete Saturday, April 18, at RFK
Public Invited to Free Exposition of Safe and Savvy Driving Techniques

The District Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Department of Transportation (DDOT) invite the public to their 11th annual professional equipment “Roadeo” competition Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at RFK Stadium in parking lots 6 and 7 (Benning Rd., NE and Oklahoma Ave., NE). Nearly 70 DPW and DDOT employees will showcase their precision driving while operating heavy road equipment used to maintain the city’s infrastructure. This event is free and open to the public.

“This Roadeo is a test of our drivers’ skill on complex vehicles, under some pretty unusual circumstances, and it’s a lot fun,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “This city has some of the most reliable drivers removing snow and ice, repairing roads, collecting trash and recyclables, and keeping our roads and alleys clean and this event showcases their skills.”

The competition consists of several obstacle courses and time events that focus on operational requirements and emphasize safety. Light and heavy snow plows, bucket and tow trucks, front end loaders, and other heavy equipment will be used in the competition, which will kick off with a celebrity “drive off” that will include both DPW and DDOT directors, Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser, and local television and radio personalities.

“The public will get a chance to see these vehicles do things they’ve never seen done before,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein. “Displaying this level of skill on equipment—some of which stands taller than 10 feet and weighs more than 10 tons—requires special skills. This event shows that our employees definitely have them.”

The winners will be eligible to compete in the American Public Works Association’s Regional Equipment Roadeo, to be held May 7, 2009, in Roanoke, Virginia.

For more information about the Roadeo, contact DPW at 202.673.6833.