I recently visited SMART on an early Saturday morning—one of the transit agencies we’re working with at Access Tech. My task was simple: get onto every bus in the lot and take pictures of the tablet serial numbers. Easy enough, but it required some careful coordination. 

Tim Viets, a Transit Supervisor who started as a driver, is nearing his 20-year anniversary with SMART. He was covering for his coworker that day, even though he isn’t a regular Saturday supervisor. With his piercing blue eyes, striking nautical tattoo, and dry sense of humor, Tim instantly stood out as someone who’s well-loved by his team. 

Tim Viets, Transit Supervisor, with SMART Bus

At 7 AM, Tim rolled in with a big box of donuts and a smile that said, “It’s gonna be a good day.” But things got busy fast—his phone was ringing non-stop with one challenge after another. One of his drivers didn’t show up, and with a passenger already waiting, Tim had to think quickly. When no one else was available, he grabbed the keys to their dial-a-ride car and drove the passenger himself. 

While sorting that out, he also coordinated with me and his team. Tim mapped out the best routes for me; ensuring I had keys, facility access, and could get to each bus before they headed out. He kept the drivers running smoothly despite the chaos, finding coverage for his employees and troubleshooting technical issues as they arose. He even let his drivers choose their vehicles for the day—a rare treat—and did their pre-trip checks himself. 

Through it all, Tim kept everyone’s spirits high, cracking jokes while managing callouts, passenger issues, a hectic schedule, and my added need to get into every bus in his fleet. What could have been a stressful, chaotic morning turned into a smooth operation, thanks to Tim’s calm and capable leadership. Without it, riders would have experienced increasingly long wait-times, drivers would have been confused and overburdened, and the organization could have lost revenue and trust with its ridership. Moreover, I would have had to spend several more hours on location and potentially plan an entirely new visit—an hour drive each way.  

Tim, like many at SMART and the greater Sandy Area Metro agencies, is a shining example of showing up for your team. His dedication, skill, and positive attitude are inspiring and vital to keeping operations running.  

Want to learn more about how dedicated professionals like Tim are making a difference in transit agencies? Read more about our work with SMART and other transit partners here.