Tommy Mims-Keeping the People Moving with Gallup Express Public Transit System Sandra McKinney

TOMMY MIMS

Keeping the People Moving with Gallup Express Public Transit System

“We each have the power to give. It’s the most gratifying feeling ever. By reaching out to help another human being, you’re sending ripples of positive change.” ~ Dana Arcuri

By Sandra McKinney

You have likely seen the turquoise Gallup Express buses traveling around town. They are a huge asset to our community and the people who travel within the City of Gallup. There are numerous (52) stops and routes for the buses around Gallup. In the fiscal year of 2018, the buses provided rides for 89,233 passengers. In just the first seven months of FY 2019, the buses have already provided 55,706 rides around Gallup. This year, the ridership is certainly on-track to far exceed the usage of 2018.

The really cool thing about riding the bus is that it is a nominal fee of $2.00 for an allday pass for as many rides as you need in that day. A $1.00 fee can be paid to deviate up to ¼ mile from the designated route. You may also purchase a 15-day bus pass for $25.00 or $20.00 for students (you must show your student ID) for unlimited rides. Your bus pass is also transferrable to the Navajo Transit System buses that travel daily to Window Rock and beyond. You could ride the bus from Gallup and eventually get to Shiprock (for an example) for just $2.00. And for just an additional fee of $1.00, you may also transfer to the A:Shiwi Transit System that travels to Zuni.

Each of the buses are ADA compliant and can accommodate wheel-chair passengers. The drivers are all trained to assist passengers with special needs. Sometimes, when a bus in not full, they will even allow a traveler to take a break from riding their bike and put their bicycle on the bus in the handicapped space. But, if a wheel-chair passenger needs to get on, the bicyclist must disembark to allow the space for the special-needs traveler.

The buses start the daily routes at 7:00am and run until 6:00pm each weekday. They do not run on weekends or major holidays.

Gallup Express Public Transit System is not operated by the city or the county, but the City of Gallup and McKinley County do provide funding toward the operational costs. It is important to note that Gallup Public Express Transit System is a non-profit organization that is governed by a Board of Directors and is

Each of these schedules can be accessed on-line at the following links or you may call the telephone numbers:

Gallup Express Public Transit System www.gallupexpress.com 505-722-0777 Navajo Transit System www.navajotransit.com 928-729-4002 A:Shiwi Transit System www.ashiwi.org/Transit 505-782-7288

primarily funded by the Federal Transportation Association.

If you are a veteran or active-duty military personnel, you may ride the Gallup Express buses FOR FREE. All you must do is provide your military identification card or VA identification card, and your trips around town are provided free of cost.

Tommy Mims and his staff are very open to feedback and suggestions from the riders and community. The staff has a wish list for the future. Since so many of us are becoming “app-literate” on our cell phones, they hope to develop an App to access routes and time schedules. There are currently four routes; red, blue, green, and yellow. To add to the wish list, they would like to establish a fifth route which might include Manuelito (west), White Cliffs, and Iyanbito (to the east). Watch for these additions in the near future. They would also like to add bicycle racks to the outside of each bus.

You might be wondering about the man who keeps the Gallup Express Public Transit System organized. Tommy Mims was born in Gallup and attended Gallup schools, graduating in 1978 from Gallup Catholic School. Right out of high school, he worked for United Nuclear Corporation until the controversial spill in 1980.

As happens with many Gallupians, Tommy had that itch to leave Gallup and broaden his horizons. Mims lived in Phoenix, Arizona, for 3 years, Long Beach, California, for five years, and Sacramento, California, for 20 years. “These years provided exciting work in the hospitality industry for The Hyatt Hotel Corporation,” Tommy explains. “It was a great opportunity to meet entertainment and sports celebrities. Being a basketball player in school, it was especially rewarding to meet and socialize with sports figures such as Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Akeem Olajuwon, and others.”

“I returned to Gallup in 2002 because I missed good Mexican food and my family and friends,” Tommy says with a smile. “I stayed in Gallup for a few years and worked at Gallup Central High School and with Cope Memorial Mortuary, but then was presented with the opportunity to work for a brand new hotel – The Le Rivage Hotel on the Sacramento River. It was thrilling to be involved in the startup of this upscale lodging corporation.” So, back to California he went!

But the desire to return to his original roots brought Tommy home to Gallup again in 2014. Without a definite plan for the future, Mims tried a few different jobs such as the Fire Rock Casino, Disability Services, and even Metro Dispatch, hoping that one would justly spark his interest. “It wasn’t until I was offered the position to manage Gallup Express Public Transit System, that I truly found a comfort zone,” he explains. “I enjoy the work, and get a strong feeling of accomplishment by helping others and being of benefit to the community,” Tommy says with a big smile.

Under Tommy’s management, Gallup Express Public Transit System was awarded “The Best Rural Transit System for 2018” at the New Mexico Transportation Association Conference. That deserves huge accolades for Tommy, the staff, and for Gallup.

In his spare time, Tommy Mims is very involved with his church, which provides another opportunity to help others. He is wellversed in scripture and is not shy about offering quotes from the Bible and sharing the Word of God. He is a joy to talk to with his easy smile and fun sense of humor. “I truly feel like I am home for good,” Tommy smiles brightly.