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Drivers held a memorial procession for Yim in January
The union representing King County Metro drivers has announced a new Transit Safety and Security Task Force will hold its first meeting this month with a focus on initiatives including a first push for safety barriers on all coaches and addressing safety at bus stops.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 announcement says the task force including “city leaders, public safety officials, transportation stakeholders, transit agency representatives, and King County representatives” is focused on “addressing safety and security both aboard transit for riders and operators, and in areas around transit.”
ATU says the process will begin March 20th with five initiatives:
- Improvements to operator safety on Metro transit department buses, including a plan to install physical barriers for bus operators on both newly acquired and existing bus fleet;
- Strategies to hold public transit passengers, as well as others at bus stops and transit centers, accountable for abiding by the requirements for conduct on transit property, as specified in K.C.C. chapter 28.96, as well as local laws and regulations;
- Interagency coordination and shared responsibilities with the jurisdictions in which the Metro transit department operates;
- Coordination with Metro transit police, local law enforcement, communities, and transit riders to improve response times with the goal of improving both public safety and the perception of safety onboard public transit and at bus stops and transit centers; and
- Other issues as identified by task force members.
The formation of the task force follows the December murder of transit operator Shawn Yim in an overnight confrontation in the University District that led to increased calls for more to be done to protect drivers and riders on the city’s public transit systems.
ATU says the task force will meet regularly through spring 2025 “to develop an initial list of recommendations.”
Under the King County Council legislation forming the task force, a report is due in September “to provide accountability and to report on progress for improving transit safety and security.”
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Combining the bike lane with an elevated bus pedestrian ramp doesn’t seem the smartest idea – now people stand in the middle of the bike lane waiting for a bus – Roosevelt has some good examples of this new idiocy.
Ummmm…It works that way all over the world. There’s several examples here in town.
ring the bell, people scoot back.
Not if they are wearing noise cancelling headphones or just oblivious as so many people are.
Recipe for disaster. 14th and E Union has one and people stand in the bike lane as a result. Ringing the bell doesn’t work if they have earphones in.
Physical driver protections have been implemented in other urban areas for decades. This should have been mandatory from day one of the metro push. And, where was the union all those years ago?
To keep drivers safe and out of acrimonious exchanges it would be best if they didn’t have to collect fares and hand out transfers anymore. So many people have Orca cards or other prepaid fare vehicles now, and the few who don’t could buy their tickets from a vending machine. a retailer like a 7/11, or online.
Drivers should get a panic button to mash. Auto GPS tracker on these things right? Why can’t the location be piped straight into 911?
Bus stop safety! Yes please. 3rd and Bell is wild. And 3rd and Pike. Sometimes 3rd and Virginia. The entire route 7. Lots of the E line stops. But how? The “security” I often see at night is usually chilling in the company car and texting/watching videos.
Yep, and using their cars to block the sidewalk.
Rarely see security at 3rd and Bell which is always bad with drug dealing and use and loitering.
We need to start from scratch. Clean sheet.
Now design that bus.