King County Metro is redeploying transit security staff to help promote an atmosphere of safety and equity for all. Officers will help ensure King County Metro’s code of conduct is upheld and encourage riders to heed Public Health – Seattle & King County’s guidance for riding transit safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Monday, April 20, transit security staff will be monitoring coaches and terminals that are experiencing crowding, defined as when it is difficult to maintain six feet of distance among riders and Metro staff.
We are also coordinating with the Healthcare for the Homeless Outreach Taskforce to share information with service providers to help give non-destination riders more information about available resources during the COVID-19 public health crisis. As always, our operators are encouraged to contact the control center when there are safety concerns.
At this time, Metro is for essential travel only. This means first-responders, medical personnel, other essential workers, and people who rely on Metro for access to food, medicine, and similarly essential needs. If you must ride, all passengers are expected to use social distancing measures by keeping six feet of space from other riders and Metro employees. On a bus, maintaining six feet of space is one person sitting in every other row of seats behind the safety strap – and one person in front of the safety strap in the designated ADA priority seating area. Riders can also consider waiting for the next bus if it looks difficult to maintain social distance.
Transit security staff will provide information to riders on expectations for safely riding transit and following public health guidance on COVID-19. Health guidance includes not traveling when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a mask when riding transit, washing hands often and using sanitizer, avoiding touching your face, and maintaining safe social distance from others.
Metro riders have begun seeing public health signs about COVID-19 on vehicles and at stops since last weekend. These signs are in addition to messages shared on social media, in transit alerts, and through multilingual on-board announcements.
Transit security staff will intervene if a rider is not following public health guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19, or if a rider is behaving in a manner that jeopardizes the safety of riders or the operator. For example, if there is space available to create social distancing, officers will direct riders to use that space and offer a friendly reminder about why social distancing is necessary.
Metro’s transit security staff receive over 580 hours of initial training in the areas of de-escalation, customer service, and interacting effectively with youth, those experiencing a mental health crisis, and those experiencing homelessness. Transit security staff also receive an additional 96 hours of training annually in the areas of equity and inclusion.
Metro’s Transit Security will be in safety yellow and black uniforms with “Transit Security” on the back of their jackets and shirts.
We continue to be diligent in exploring new ways to support the safety of our frontline employees and riders.
If you must go, be in the know. Go to KingCounty.gov/ReducedSchedule to confirm your route is operating. Use our “Next Departures” webpage or app to check your trip. You can also text your stop ID to 62550 or call Metro Customer Information: 206-553-3000.
I ride the C line. And the homeless problem has gotten a little worse in west Seattle. So there are more homeless people hopping on the bus. Usually with no mask or regard for social distancing. Security on the bus would be nice for any route. But seeing the rest of these comments and also experiencing my bus route, I think this article is a myth or fantasy!! I haven’t seen one security guard on a bus and I’ve been riding 5days a week for two months!! Something has to be done to ensure mask usage and social distancing to allow every passenger to feel safe while riding. It’s hard enough going out to work in a pandemic. We don’t like have to stress about getting to work on public transit when it’s not a safe environment!!
I agree with most the comments. It’s a joke. I have been taking the light rail and non destinational (homeless)riders are everywhere. Lately the light rail has two trains in the station at the same time around 6:19 am. So the non destinational
Riders hop off the train and get onto the one that’s waiting in the station. There should never be two trains at the UW or Angel station at the same time. Please fix this. These homeless are not following social distancing.
Where are you riding because my route is disgusting most the time with homeless non essential riders riding around coughing stinking throwing up on the bus. Capital hill and downtown is awful an I have not seen one metro security as advertised once. It’s a joke
Here is the reason to have a physical barrier (security plexiglass or whatever you want to call it) between drivers and the passenger compartment. Even talking sprays droplets from the mouth and some float and hang in the air. Many passengers like to come up to chit chat or ask questions and their mouths are within a foot or two of the drivers’ faces. A barrier like the security barriers would at least block much of the droplets from talking.
Watch the video: https://abc13.com/6111559/
This also shows just how effective masks are in preventing spread.
Masks do not prevent the spread of the coronavirus your hands do and whatever touches your face people don’t use the masks properly it’s not spread by air is spread by contact on my other point is your buses are too full know buddy is safe distances away and most of the people on the buses now or careless don’t care or give a shit
Metro absolutely needs to install the glass barrier. Drivers are no way being protected as they should be. There are no social distancing on capital hill I know for sure and many other routes. After speaking to many drivers most have never once seen a security person policing as stated in the news. The homeless are coughing and spreading who knows what daily to the passengers that need to get to work to save lives. It’s a disgrace!
Will the security at least get a real mask? These are not cops. They have no authority. They can’t touch anyone. They can call cops the same as the driver. Whoever commented about being saddened about classifying people as “sketchy” I’m sure you do the right thing. You don’t shoot up on the bus. You don’t pee on the bus. Don’t throw up on the bus. I’m sure you would pay the fare. You probably wouldn’t harass other passengers. I grew up without a dad, poor, alcoholic parent, experienced homelessness, and you know what? I chose not to be sketchy. I never used the bus as a bathroom, I never shot up drugs, never assaulted someone. How about next time you’re driving and you see someone experiencing homelessness you pick them up and give them a free ride. Let me know how that works out for you. Hey Mr Gannon I’m sure your working from home, but next time you need groceries please use metro, ride the bus, please ride the bus, catch a rapid ride, use one of the masks approved for drivers, it won’t really protect you, but it will lessen the risk for everyone else.
Good posts. It’s a disgrace and disgusting. Someone threw up on the bus two days ago, homeless stinky and no regard for those around him but yet the lack of the so called security policing non essential riders is a joke
If Metro Transit is for essential travel only now, why are the “homeless” apparently allowed to ride on the bus just to be on the bus? Does Metro Transit value the “homeless” more than they value the bus drivers?
because the “un-housed”, “non-destination” riders don’t have to follow the same rules that everyone else does
Clearly they do because metro has no intention of putting security on routes such as capital hill and other main homeless routes. Metro EPIC FAILURE!!
Yes they do. Their traveling hotel/traphouse is for the homeless. Meanwhile, I have to pay 20$ (Uber) a day just to work.
I am deeply saddened by other’s responses here that include the classification of human beings as “sketchy” and equate homelessness with danger… not for the person experiencing homelessness but for themselves. There is classism and racism built into this message.
Go up to capital hill and ride the 60 and then see if you still feel the same. Most the homeless have no desire to utilize all the opportunities out there to better themselves and riding the bus around all day and night puts everyone else in danger. I tried to give out some mask and was literally told to F off and one told me good something to wipe my butt with. Nice people huh
Thank you for doing this. We really need this especially on #10. I am stressed out taking care of vulnerable patients and then having to put up with the stress on the bus going home is way too much. I try to take another bus whenever I can.
Good luck with metro doing anything…
Right!!!! EPIC FAILURE
God bless you for being on the front line. Sorry after putting your life on the line for it here’s you have to deal with this. METRO GET IT TOGETHER
The E Line is very problematic! Crowded all the time with dirty and mentally ill and drug users–people not wearing masks. I’m scared to take the E Line.
Thank you! As an essential worker who relies on the bus to get to work, I am so glad this is happening. I have dealt with getting coughed on, people sitting too close, and very very scary, aggressive and threatening homeless passengers, since this outbreak. I am so glad there will be security now! I hope Sound Transit will follow suit.
I gave no seen one security person yet on my route. It’s a joke
I appreciate this too! Riding the 5 bus late evening, we pick up some sketchy folks off of Aurora heading towards downtown.
Thank you Metro. As a frequent rider during normal conditions, I think this is welcome news. I appreciate Metro’s willingness to assure safe and healthy conditions for both riders and drivers.
Where are you riding because capital hill 60 is a joke. Not any security at all joke