The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority announced similar plans to install barriers on its buses last week. "Not one more operator should be assaulted or murdered on a bus with the technology we have proven could help prevent some of these incidents, and it's just mindboggling we still have authorities out there that are not looking to do this," he said.
"We are working together to take immediate action to ensure that our operator-members are safe and that a tragedy like that never happens again."ĪTU International President John Costa said this should be a wake-up call for other transit agencies around the country to be proactive instead of reactive. "Following the senseless passing of one of our own, we voiced our concerns, and would like to thank HART leadership for listening to us," said Howard. After he was stabbed, he still managed to pull the bus over safely so that no other passengers were injured. Howard also leads the local chapter in Tampa that represented Thomas Dunn, the HART bus driver who was stabbed by a passenger in May while on the job.ĭunn, 46, had complained to the HART board about safety issues last December. “We took a shield that is extended out where somebody can’t put their hand around or walk up and just grab the operator,” ATU International Vice President Curtis Howard explained. The agency worked with the union that represents its drivers, the Amalgamated Transit Union, to come up with a plan and agreed to a custom-fit protective barrier with extended tempered glass to cover the area where bus and van drivers sit. "The safety and security of our employees remains a priority at HART as they serve our customers with the highest level of professionalism," HART CEO Ben Limmer said in a statement. HART announced the move Thursday and said it has allocated $1 million towards the project with each installed barrier estimated to cost $5,000. Less than a month after one of their drivers was killed by a passenger, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority is installing safety barriers on all of its vehicles.
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