Metro declares emergency over attacks on bus operators

The stabbing of a bus driver in Willowbrook this month amid a spate of increasingly violent assaults on public transit operators prompted transit officials this week to declare an emergency to speed up the building of enclosed protective barriers for drivers. “These incidents have occurred with no prompting or warning and have created an environment of increased risk and trauma as assailants are resorting to the use of deadly weapon such as guns and knives,” Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority senior officials wrote in a report to the agency’s board this week, asking it to approve the new barriers. “Given this crisis situation, it is imperative that Metro retrofit all buses with fully enclosed barriers.” The move comes as Metro is dealing with renewed concern about security across its system. “Crime is spiraling up and we have to do something,” said John Ellis, who represents six union locals that account for 5,000 bus and rail operators working at the MTA. “This will help make drivers more safe,” said Ellis, who has been working with the Metro chief executive for more than a year on this and last week gave his approval to the final prototype.