Newly introduced legislation This legislation would require transit agencies to report all assaults on bus drivers to the U.S. DOT’s National Transit Database. Photo: LA Metro/Steve Hymon
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Newly introduced legislation This legislation would require transit agencies to report all assaults on bus drivers to the U.S. DOT’s National Transit Database. Photo: LA Metro/Steve Hymon
LOS ANGELES — A new bill, which was introduced to help protect bus drivers from assaults, would require transit agencies install protective driver barriers on all buses, draw up plans to ensure bus driver safety and hand over data on operator assaults to the Federal Transit Administration, reported the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
U.S. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32), U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY-24) introduced the Bus Operator and Pedestrian Protection Act with the support of bus drivers and union leaders from across the country.
Details of the Bus Operator and Pedestrian Protection Act
The Bus Operator and Pedestrian Protection Act gives transit agencies two years to develop Bus Operations Safety Risk Reduction Programs in partnership with their transit workforce, and with oversight from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The bill authorizes $25 million per year for 5 years to pay for the implementation of these safety improvements as part of their Bus Operations Safety Risk Reduction Programs:
Assault mitigation infrastructure and technology, including barriers to prevent assault on bus drivers
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De-escalation training for bus drivers
Modified bus specifications and retrofits to reduce visibility impairments
Driver assistance technology that reduces accidents
Installation of bus driver seating to reduce ergonomic injuries
This legislation will also require transit agencies to report all assaults on bus drivers to the U.S. DOT’s National Transit Database. It is supported by the ATU, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, and Teamsters.
The Plan is CTA's formal response to an FTA Special Directive issued in December and details how the agency will significantly expand the law enforcement surge it launched.
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
During a safety blitz, Metra employees will visit one of the railroad’s 243 stations during the morning rush hour, distributing educational materials on train and grade-crossing safety, answering questions, and listening to riders’ safety concerns.
Operated in partnership with Tech Valley Security, trained CDTA Ambassadors will be on select routes and will rotate throughout CDTA’s route network. Their presence is intended to provide customers with an approachable, visible resource focused on assistance and engagement.
Customers have always been able to report concerns through the CATS Customer Service line or the “Report a Problem to CATS” feature in the CATS-Pass mobile app; however, CATS has also integrated a Text-a-Tip line, giving riders multiple, easy-to-use channels to get support.
