LA Metro Becomes First U.S. Transit Agency to Install Protective Barriers Across Bus Fleet

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Monday it has become the first U.S. transit agency to equip its entire active bus fleet with fully enclosed, protective barriers for drivers, completing installation on all 2,017 buses eight months after launching the emergency procurement initiative.

The new barriers, constructed of steel and shatterproof tempered glass with a special anti-reflective coating, have already shown promising results in protecting operators. From April to September, bus operators were 58 percent less likely to be assaulted on vehicles equipped with the barriers, with a significant decline in spitting incidents, according to Metro.

The safety project, approved by Metro’s Board of Directors in April 2024, responded to increasing attacks on bus operators, part of a national trend affecting transit agencies. The barriers protect drivers from physical attacks including punching, grabbing, throwing objects, and spitting incidents.

“Nothing we are working on is more important than addressing public safety on our Metro system,” Metro stated in its announcement.

Metro’s Central Maintenance Facility in downtown Los Angeles handled the barrier design, prototyping and fabrication in-house, with Metro staff conducting most installations at operating divisions. The project required approximately 55,000 square feet of Department of Transportation-approved glass to retrofit the entire fleet.

The initiative emerged from extensive testing and feedback. Beginning in July 2022, Metro developed two prototype barriers, installing them on select buses in April 2023. More than 2,500 bus operators participated in an online survey, expressing preference for barriers extending to the front windshield. The final design, reviewed by Metro’s Joint Labor Management Safety Committee, addressed initial concerns about reflections and glare.

The barrier installation complements existing safety measures including onboard cameras, DVR systems, emergency buttons, de-escalation training for operators, and dedicated security teams patrolling select routes. Metro also launched a “See Something, Say Something” campaign and installed signage warning that operator assaults carry penalties of up to three years in prison and $10,000 fines under California law.

Metro operates the nation’s second-busiest bus system, carrying 1 million passengers daily across six electric rail lines and 120 bus routes. The system serves a 1,447-square-mile area with more than 12,000 bus stops and has recorded over 222.7 million rides in the first 11 months of 2024.