Minneapolis Metro Transit adding 150 Bentech driver shields
The shields will be delivered by the end of February, with the agency planning to install them on eight to 10 buses per week

Assaults on Metro Transit operators have risen over the past several years, despite efforts by the agency to deter them.
Metro Transit

Assaults on Metro Transit operators have risen over the past several years, despite efforts by the agency to deter them.
Metro Transit
MINNEAPOLIS — The Pioneer Press reports that Metro Transit will install protective shields on 150 buses early next year after recent increases in assaults on drivers.
Officials ordered the Plexiglas shields from Bentech Inc. after testing them out on roughly two-dozen buses earlier this year. Drivers and transit personnel hope the enclosures will cut back on the assaults.
Assaults on operators have risen over the past several years, despite efforts by the agency to deter them. A total of 189 assaults were reported through October of this year, up from 184 for all of last year. The incidents range from felony-level assaults to spitting, verbal harassment, and threats.
The 150 shields will be delivered by the end of February, with the agency planning to install them on eight to 10 buses per week. For the full story, click here.
More Security and Safety

LADOT to Launch Bus-Mounted Camera Enforcement on DASH Buses
The program will begin with a 60-day warning period before citations are issued in January 2027, joining similar efforts across Southern California to improve bus reliability, safety, and accessibility.
Read More →
New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project
Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.
Read More →
CSA Group Releases Climate Resilience Standard for Transit, Passenger Rail
Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.
Read More →
San Diego MTS Approves New Fare Evasion Penalty Program
The new administrative process will move eligible violations out of the criminal court system, cap penalties at $125, and provide flexible payment options for riders.
Read More →
RTC of Southern Nevada Reports 29% Drop in Transit Operator Assaults
The agency credits expanded security measures, employee training, and technology investments for improvements in transit safety, while security officers have responded to 19 suspected overdoses since July.
Read More →
Public Transit Conference Returning to GFX in 2027, Call for Papers Now Open
The Call for Papers is now open, allowing transit agency professionals and industry experts to help shape the PTC educational program by submitting session ideas for consideration.
Read More →
Safe Transit Act Proposes New Security Requirements for Federal Transit Funding
Proposed legislation would link federal transit dollars to safety measures while requiring security investments, onboard cameras, and new fare collection standards.
Read More →
FTA Ends Direct Oversight of MBTA Safety Actions
The federal agency closed its remaining special directive to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities following a safety review that began in 2022.
Read More →
Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit
Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.
Read More →
DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative
The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.
Read More →