Bus ‘Roadeo’ shuts down part of South Brevard Street

Generally transit buses are designed to ease congestion in urban areas, but traffic is stopped in uptown Charlotte as public transit workers gather here for a convention.

Parts of South Brevard Street are closed near M.L. King Jr. Drive and the NASCAR Hall of Fame for most of the workday as the American Public Transportation Association begins its International Bus Roadeo.

Twenty-six buses will be parked on the plaza, Brevard Street and M.L. King Drive as displays. The roadeo is a competition that focuses on driving skills and maintenance. The event provides a training and a networking opportunity for bus operators and maintenance teams.

Association’s program for Monday includes a luncheon on the plaza outside the museum. The event is expected to wrap up at 4 p.m., according to Marcus Eng, the meeting manager.

The association is involved in public transportation education and networking, according to its website. The 2016 Bus & Paratransit Conference continues through Wednesday.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 8:41 AM with the headline "Bus ‘Roadeo’ shuts down part of South Brevard Street."