As Community Transit marks 50 years serving Snohomish County, one of its bus drivers is also celebrating a milestone this year. In June, Nick Johal hit his 25th anniversary with the agency, and every day on the job has been unique. “You just have no idea who you’re going to come across,” he said. “There have been some amazing, incredible interactions.”

Before joining Community Transit in 2001, Johal was a trained chef in French cuisine, working at prestigious establishments across Europe, including The Ritz in London. He didn’t have any commercial driving experience. "I felt like I was really lagging," he recalled. Yet, he graduated and quickly mastered the road, eventually joining the elite One Million Mile Club in 2017 for driving a million miles without a preventable accident.

His previous career as a chef might seem like a stark contrast from his current role, but it’s been a continuation of his hospitality roots. In fact, 25 years of keeping local communities moving has taught Johal to structure his daily route around the agency’s priorities: safety, service, schedule. “We’re carrying priceless human cargo,” he noted.

As a seasoned operator, Johal’s favorite routes run through Mill Creek and Edmonds, where the suburban streets meet the water. By driving regular shifts, he has developed many friendships and deep connections with his riders. "Next thing you know, you know their name and their backstory," Johal said. 

You can read more about Johal and Community Transit’s history on HistoryLink, an online encyclopedia of Washington state history.

Check out our website to learn how the agency was created in 1976 and how it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary with the community, including a chance to step aboard one of the original buses that was in service.