Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 18, 2007

Metro Launches Spanish Class for Employees

¿Habla Español? Metro front-line employees will soon be able to answer Sí to that and other basic questions posed by Spanish-speaking customers.

Metro began teaching basic Spanish to front line employees this month as part of a pilot project that will help fulfill federal requirements on language access for our limited-English speaking customers. A total of 18 employees: six bus operators, six station managers and six street supervisors are taking the two-and-a-half hour class, twice a week. The employees were selected by rail line managers and bus superintendents and represent heavily populated Spanish speaking customer routes throughout the Metro service area. They do not speak Spanish but want to learn the language to better communicate with non-English speaking customers.

The goal is for front-line employees to learn occupational-based, functional, command Spanish.

“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic American population grew almost 40 percent in the 90s,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “Metro already publishes its pocket guide in several languages, including Spanish. This is the next logical step in improving service to one of the fastest growing groups in America. This is good and it's good business,” Catoe said.

Metro staff representing customer service departments, who were concerned about better communication with customers, started the effort. They met with bus operators and station managers to develop and compile the curriculum and materials for the course.

Once the pilot program has concluded, it will be evaluated and any improvements will be made to strengthen the classes.

News release issued at 12:00 am, October 18, 2007.