METRO Honors 'The Bus Lady' with Commemorative Plaque

METRO dedicated a commemorative plaque to honor Janis Scott, a beloved and passionate public transit advocate affectionately known throughout the community as "The Bus Lady."

Janis passed away in December 2024 at the age of 73. A life-long public transit user, she was known not only for her unwavering commitment to public transportation, but also for the relationships she built with people throughout the agency.

“She always wanted to make sure things at METRO were going well and advocated for the agency to make improvements to our service,” said Interim President & CEO Tom Jaisen. “She was part of the METRO family, so placing this plaque on one of our new buses is a way for all of us to honor her legacy."

Janis regularly engaged with METRO staff, offering thoughtful feedback and reporting issues with the goal of improving the rider experience.

"She was a fixture for many of us in bus operations, regularly reporting potential hazards, and issues she encountered with our service," said Israel Garcia, Interim Vice President of Bus Operations. “Her input helped improve our service for all of our customers.”

Patricia Samarripa, a superintendent of bus operations, recalled Janis' dedication and unwavering passion for METRO.

“We had great conversations. Through the years, I saw her at the METRO administration building, and she would immediately embrace me,” Samarripa said. “She always left me with a smile. I will miss her grit and charming personality.”

The plaque was installed inside bus 2080, one of METRO’s new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. The bus is currently undergoing testing and will soon be in service.