Rockin’ 66 Express Is Here for Cibola
MILAN, N.M. – When David Segovia packed up the family three years ago and left the central coast of California for Grants, NM and a job at Rockin’ 66 Express, he had no idea that driving a small shuttle bus would become one of his all-time favorite jobs. “Every day is a new adventure. I love meeting new people, serving the community, and helping the handicapped and veterans,” he said while driving the red shuttle bus down old Route 66 after dropping off an elderly couple at their home in the Village of Milan. “This was a spiritual move that brought me here. It was the right move, and the people of Grants have welcomed us.”
David works full-time and is one of four drivers that navigate the Village of Milan, Grants, Bluewater Village, and San Rafael. The bus service also travels on State Road 605 ending at mile marker four. The transit service that began as Cibola Transit evolved into the Carrot Express (named because the Village of Milan was once the carrot capital of the world), and after a unanimous vote from the citizens of Milan, was renamed the Rockin’ 66 Express in 2019.
Transit Director, Melissa Chavez, oversees the operation of Rockin’ 66 Express from her office in the Village of Milan. Even though she handles traffic control and all the paperwork, including dispatch, she is happy to jump in and work as a substitute driver when necessary. “I still have my CDL, and I’ll still drive. I love helping the community. It’s a good feeling.”
Many community members do not know that the door-todoor bus service exists for all Cibola County residents. Bus riders just need to call the Rockin’ 66 Express phone number (505-2902469) and schedule their pickup. A driver will pick up a rider at their front door and transport the rider to their desired location. There are regulars who use the service every day to get to and from work. Others need to get to a doctor’s appointment. Dialysis patients ride free, as do veterans with service ID. A regular trip costs $0.75 per person per trip or $2 all day, and $0.30 for kids under eighteen. Riders are encouraged to schedule their trips as early as possible to ensure a timely pickup. Regular rider Patsy Williams said, “This is a lifesaver. We’ve depended on the bus for the doctor and everything.”
Though the service is doorto- door, there are three regular bus stops: Milan Village Hall at 8:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., Smith’s in Grants at 10 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., and the Walmart in Grants at 10 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.
The fleet consists of five shuttle buses, and last fiscal year the Rockin’ 66 Express completed 11,639 trips, accumulated 67,000 miles traveled, and logged 2,744.5 hours of drive time. “The drivers are awesome employees who make all this happen. They go above and beyond every day. I’m truly blessed,” Transit Director, Melissa Chavez said.
David Segovia, Express Driver