MTA Introduces Safety Partitions After String of Attacks on Bus Drivers

by Mindy Cohn

In looking for ways to protect their bus drivers, the MTA is pushing to make safety changes on their buses after a relentless uptick of violent attacks against drivers.

Transit union officials say that assaults on MTA bus drivers are up 36% since last year. There were 72 attacks during the first half of 2022, while there have been 98 attacks on bus drivers during the same time period during 2023, four of those incidents occurring in the last week. Incidents of spitting have gone up 21%. There were 95 last year, while 115 such incidents were reported by MTA drivers this year.

The MTA's solution is to retrofit the buses by partitioning off the driver with a cockpit barrier to reduce assaults. 

The plan is to roll out the cockpits for a 90-day pilot on two bus routes this fall for a 90-day pilot. Expanding the barriers Citywide will cost the cash-strapped City an estimated $48 million.

Transit officials are also installing new electronic e-mirrors meant to cut down on the risk of buses striking pedestrians or other vehicles.

So, while all NYC agencies have been ordered by the mayor to cutting costs by increments of 5% every few months through the end of the year, as reported by BoroPark24 here the MTA seems to be impervious to that memo.