Winnipeg, MB – As part of the City of Winnipeg's ongoing commitment to operator safety, bus operator safety shields are now being installed on all 630 Winnipeg Transit buses. The first shield-equipped buses were put into service today.
“I am pleased that we are following through on our promise to make operator safety a priority with the installation of shields,” said Councillor Matt Allard, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works. “Seeing those first few shield-equipped buses on the road today is such an important milestone."
The bus operator safety shields will be installed on Transit buses at a rate of 15 per week.
In consultation with Winnipeg Transit employees and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU 1505), Winnipeg Transit issued a request for proposals in September of 2017 for the supply and delivery of bus operator shields. Two contractors met the criteria set out in the RFP, and in order to select a contractor, Winnipeg Transit tested the two shield designs for a period of nine months to determine which design best met Transit’s needs.
In spring 2017, Winnipeg Transit prepared a comprehensive list of current safety management practices, and researched potential concepts that would provide increased security for transit bus operators and customers. The report was adopted by the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works on May 30, 2017.
In the report, Winnipeg Transit recommended implementing the following safety enhancement initiatives, which have all been achieved to date:
- A pilot project to test bus operator safety barriers,
- A Transit Advisory Committee to review industry practices, assess and determine trends, and recommend strategies to improve safety,
- An advertising campaign to encourage customers to report undesirable behavior, and
- Stronger reporting procedures with the Winnipeg Police Service to facilitate proactive safety initiatives within the ‘Winnipeg Police Service Smart Policing Initiative’.
The report also recommended that the following safety enhancement concepts be considered in 2018, which have all been actioned to date.
- Expansion of the audio/video surveillance system to deter undesirable behaviour and assist with identification, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators,
- Adding one instructor and three dedicated relief operators to provide additional ongoing training for operators to prevent and diffuse conflict,
- Funding for five additional full time positions, or another source of security presence, to assist operators and passengers and to increase awareness and enforcement of the Public Transit By-law, and
- Four new Point Duty Inspectors to assist operators and passengers at set strategic locations.
For more information on Winnipeg Transit, please see winnipegtransit.com.