Metro Transit Enacting New Safety Measures to Protect Drivers, Passengers

For Immediate Release
April 4, 2025

In response to a series of recent incidents, Metro Transit and the City of Madison are examining current policies and procedures and putting together a set of initiatives to enhance employee safety.   

Ensuring the safety and well-being of all drivers and passengers continues to be Metro’s number one priority and concern. City officials from the Mayor’s Office and the Madison Police Department look forward to working with Metro employees and worker representatives to ensure a safe workplace for operators.  

Here are some of the steps the City will be taking to improve safety on Metro buses: 

Incident Review Board 

Staff are assembling an incident review board made up of drivers, supervisors and other union representatives to review each of these recent events to make sure all of the correct actions were taken, all protocols were followed and determine what went wrong and what can be done to prevent similar situations in the future.  

This review board will be led by Metro’s chief of operations, safety personnel, and driver supervisors. Metro will be reaching out to Teamsters Local 120 that requested its members also join the board.  

Committee findings related to these incidents will be shared with all Metro staff.  

Updated Driver Training and Procedures 

These incidents and the findings of the review board will be discussed in annual summer refresher driver training courses and included in new driver training classes. An outside agency is also being brought in to provide de-escalation training as part of the summer refresher courses. Training will continue to emphasize that drivers are not responsible for confronting passengers about fare payment.  

Citations for Non-Fare Payment 

Metro is in the process of updating the City ordinance that governs enforcement of bus fares to reduce drivers' role in enforcing fare payment and thereby further reduce the potential for negative interactions with passengers.  

First steps will be to create passenger signage encouraging riders to make sure to pay their fare and informing passengers of the penalties for non-payment. The ordinance will empower Metro supervisors to enforce fare payment, thereby removing the burden on drivers and avoiding the need for police involvement, which will make enforcement easier. This ordinance will be on the Transportation Commission’s agenda this coming Wednesday, April 9. 

Interagency Safety Group 

Metro will also assemble an interagency safety group made up of Metro’s management and safety teams, Madison police and the Mayor’s Office. Driver representatives will also be invited to meet with this group. This safety group will meet regularly to assess and respond to recent incidents.  

Increased Penalties for Disorderly Conduct Toward Drivers 

The Mayor’s Office and the Common Council are working with the City Attorney’s office on an ordinance to increase fines and specifically prohibit any disorderly conduct targeted at bus operators. This is modeled on the ordinance the City passed in 2022 in response to threats and violence aimed at elections officials. 

This would be in addition to the felony charges that already exist for an assault on a transit operator. 

Safety Barriers 

The City has ensured that all new Metro buses have driver safety barriers installed. Metro is exploring retrofitting the rest of its fleet with new barriers. 

Public Education Regarding Driver and Passenger Safety 

The City of Madison will work with Metro to expand its public messaging about the risks and penalties for interfering with drivers, as well as reminders to pay fares, and reminders about penalties involved for non-payment. This messaging campaign will employ all City of Madison communication channels.  

The City and Metro Transit deeply value the contributions of our hard-working transit operators. Eliminating incidents like those that recently occurred and ensuring the safety and well-being of all drivers and passengers continues to be Metro’s number one priority and concern. We hope that all Madison residents will join in helping prevent any negativity directed at bus drivers.