Bus drivers point to culture of 'service over safety' in special King County Council meeting

Officials from local transit agencies, law enforcement, and the union representing Seattle-area bus drivers met with the King County Council on Monday to discuss what can be done to improve transit safety for operators and riders.

The stabbing death of bus driver Shawn Yim last month by a passenger renewed calls from transit operators and union officials to reexamine safety protocols for drivers.

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"My fellow operators are driving their routes right now in fear, traumatized by Metro's continued emphasis on service over safety," Metro driver Chuck Lare said during public comment.

Lare and other transit operators offered suggestions that could help improve operator safety, such as shortening the wait time for police help late at night, assistance from transit security with clearing buses, and improving lighting at bus stops.

King County Chair Claudia Balducci emphasized the need for immediate action.

"That's what will build confidence in our employees and in the public that we can make change," Balducci said during the meeting.

She added that in the immediate future, the council can examine funding for de-escalation training for drivers and improve data collection for violent incidents.

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Councilmembers also heard from transit operators and union leaders about their wish for King County Metro to install operator enclosures on buses.

King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison said the department has been working on creating shields or bus operator compartments for a decade.

"It has been hard because there's no perfect solution, " Allison said. "We have to balance weight, [the Americans with Disabilities Act]: You're changing the actual office of an operator. So there's a lot of opinion about how it should work and function and feel."

In an emailed statement, Metro spokesperson Al Sanders said the agency has installed two different enclosure prototypes on five buses. The prototypes were installed before Yim's death, and Metro is currently working with vendors and the drivers' union to select a preferred option, he said.

King County Metro has also placed an order for four test buses that feature a European-style operator compartment, Sanders added. The buses' design is similar to light rail, street car, and subway operator compartments. Those buses are slated to arrive next year.

Meanwhile, King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn said his office is also drafting legislation to assemble a regional task force focused on transit safety.