LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) Central Maintenance Facility and Operating Divisions completed retrofitting the entire active bus fleet with new, expanded barriers made of shatterproof, tempered glass that fully enclose drivers. LA Metro Retrofitted its 2017th Bus, Providing Extra Layer of Security for Operators. The barrier design, prototyping and much of the fabrication were completed in-house at Metro’s Central Maintenance Facility (CMF) in downtown Los Angeles, and the barriers were mostly installed by Metro staff at the operating divisions.
In April, Metro’s Board of Directors approved an emergency procurement motion to accelerate the installation of expanded barriers. Just eight months later, Metro has finished retrofitting all 2017 active / in service buses in its fleet, making it the first transit agency in the nation to do so.
The barriers are constructed of steel and laminated, low-reflectivity shatter-resistant glass. To retrofit the entire fleet, Metro used about 55,000 square feet of this glass — enough to cover an entire football field.
Nothing we are working on is more important than addressing public safety on our Metro system. The bus barrier initiative was launched earlier this year in response to an increase in attacks on our bus operators, part of a national trend that has also impacted Metro. The barriers provide an extra layer of security for operators, protecting them from physical attacks — i.e. punching, grabbing or throwing objects — and from behaviors such as spitting.
The bus barriers are already showing positive results. From this past April to September, operators were 58 percent less likely to be assaulted on buses with fully enclosed barriers. We’ve also seen a significant decline in spitting incidents.
This is the latest in a series of steps Metro has taken to enhance operator safety, including:
- Onboard cameras, DVR systems and emergency buttons that operators can use to summon help.
- De-escalation training to help operators manage challenging situations.
- A “See Something, Say Something” marketing campaign to encourage riders to report issues and stay vigilant.
- Signage reminding passengers that assaults on operators are punishable by up to three years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both under California law.
- Dedicated bus riding security teams patrolling select lines.
Retrofit Barrier Background
Metro’s bus system is the second busiest in the United States and has provided more than 222.7 million rides during the first 11-months of 2024 across a 1,447-square-mile service area that includes more than 12,000 bus stops.
Beginning in July 2022, Metro began work on two prototype barriers that provided additional protection for bus operators. The prototypes were installed on limited buses in April 2023. Through an online survey, over 2,500 bus operators showed a preference for a barrier that would extend the protected area to the front windshield of the bus. However, bus operators noted a concern with reflections and glare observed in the polycarbonate material used on the prototypes.
To address this feedback, Metro staff identified a Department of Transportation- approved tempered glass material with a special coating that significantly reduces reflections. The design of the prototype barriers was reviewed with Metro’s Joint Labor Management Safety Committee.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries 1 million boardings daily on six electric rail lines and 120 bus routes utilizing more than 2,000 low-emission buses.
Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at https://metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, x.com/metrolosangeles and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.
###
This news item based on an announcement issued by the office of LA Metro. This version first appeared on California Newswire.
