Tri-Cities bus driver hangs up his keys after more than 1.5 million miles on the road

Over the past four decades Ben Franklin Transit bus driver Steven McMurray has put more than 1.5 million miles on the odometer, and made a lot of friends along the way.

After driving more than 1.5 million miles helping Tri-Cities residents and visitors get to their destination, McMurray is retiring.

He has been with the public transportation system, serving Benton and Franklin counties for 39 of its 42 years of service.

“I am extremely happy that I could do this for my career, it’s been 39 years,” McMurray said.

Early Thursday, McMurray was joined by his siblings, children, and grandchildren to support him in his last journey. They departed from Three Rivers Transit Center and took route 123, which runs from the transit center in Kennewick all the way to north Richland near Hanford High School.

“He’s given so much to the transit over the years and it’s been a big part of our family… being able to be here to celebrate with him is the best,” said his daughter, Kara Heldt.

Moving forward, McMurray plans to spend his retirement with his family, expecting to spend a lot of time playing with his grandchildren and on the tennis court.

“I am very very excited for him, he has earned it, he deserved it and he’s going to have a lot of fun,” his other daughter, Erin Newman said.

He’s also going to be missed by his riders and co-workers.

“Steve’s service and dedication to the community and Ben Franklin Transit are personal attributes to be admired and emulated… his regular riders call him by name. I wish I had 100 Steves,” BFT General Manager Rachelle Glazier said in a media release.

This story was originally published June 17, 2023 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Tri-Cities bus driver hangs up his keys after more than 1.5 million miles on the road."