Metro Transit announced Friday that protective enclosures for drivers would be installed in 20 buses “as soon as possible.”
Transit officials say the installation is meant to test the effectiveness of Plexiglas shields for possible future implementation in its fleet. The move has evoked mixed reactions from transit operators and union representatives, who recently threatened to go on strike during the Super Bowl if safety concerns were not addressed.
“These shields are in place in some other … big-city transit organizations, and what we’re looking for through this pilot is to try to find a solution that is accepted on our vehicles,” said Brian Funk, Metro Transit’s deputy chief operating officer for bus. The installation will likely occur over the coming weeks.
The enclosures will be transparent to maintain passenger-driver interaction, while also protecting operators from harm, he said. The test will last six months, but may be extended if further evaluation is needed.
In 2016, there were 162 assaults reported on Metro Transit operators. Assaults encompass physical attacks, spitting, verbal harassment and threats.
Jane Hanson, a Metro Transit operator for nine years, is happy the enclosures are being tested. In 2015, she was assaulted by a passenger at the end of a light-rail shift. She since switched to operating buses and hopes the shields will keep drivers safe.
“It’s going to reduce a lot of stress, and it’s going to reduce a lot of unnecessary … (assaults),” she said.
Metro Transit’s announcement coincides with a contract dispute between transit workers and the Metropolitan Council. Unionized operators voted to reject the Met Council’s contract proposal last month, and threatened a Super Bowl strike if an agreement isn’t reached by January.
The installation of protective shields was among many demands that workers wanted addressed.
Mark Lawson, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, which authorized the strike, said the Friday announcement was bittersweet.
He said while he’s happy Metro Transit is taking steps to address operator safety, he doesn’t understand why officials didn’t discuss this in recent contract negotiations.
“My thoughts are, if they’re willing to do this, why aren’t they willing to commit to it in a contract?” he said. “In contract bargaining, they’ve shown zero interest in doing this.”
Lawson said he worries that Metro Transit isn’t seeking input from operators on the best enclosure to test.
Metro Transit operates more than 900 buses.
