ATU Local 587 and Metro put safety first as Task Force reconvenes
By Michelle Allison and Greg Woodfill
Since the historic inaugural meeting of the King County Regional Transit Safety Task Force on March 20, participants from across behavioral health, community, government, labor, law enforcement, public health, safety and transit have been hard at work. As our large group of more than 100 people reconvenes on July 9, we are eager to advance a structured framework for action.
Informed by data and stakeholder experience, our action plan will draw from more than 150 solutions distilled into eight strategic themes: Built Environment & Safety Design; Care-Based Safety Responses; Public Messaging & Campaigns; Regional Alignment & Systemwide Coordination; Staffing Expansion & Field Capacity; Transit Employee & Rider Reporting; Workforce Training & Support; and Youth Engagement & Safety.
While the Task Force is essential to delivering neighborhood safety that, in turn, creates transit safety, ATU and Metro have maintained momentum on what we can directly control.
Operator safety partitions fleetwide
On June 10, King County recommitted to adding safety partitions to Metro’s entire fleet of roughly 1,400 buses, which includes both new and existing vehicles. These larger, stronger partition designs were shaped by the constructive feedback from operators during roadshows at our bus bases.
In January, we made a solemn promise to deliver these partitions to improve safety conditions for our bus operators. We are now targeting a fleetwide update of partitions by the end of next year.
More Metro Transit Police and Transit Security Officers
We’re grateful for the support to increase funding for both Metro Transit Police and Transit Security Officers. King County Executive Shannon Braddock’s proposed supplemental budget would increase the number of Metro Transit Police Officers from 79 to 89 when fully staffed. Metro continues to hire and is currently at 69 officers, many of whom are working overtime to provide additional coverage.
The proposed supplemental county budget — supported by resources from the City of Seattle — would also fund more Transit Security Officers, which have risen steadily from 60 in 2021 to 220 in April 2025. Thirty of these officers serve as Fare Enforcement Officers.
Expanded supports for community members and riders
By popular demand, we’re pleased that the Behavioral Health Specialist and the Safety, Security and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Reform Ambassadors programs are both expanding.
The Behavioral Health Specialist program, which began as a pilot at Burien Transit Center in 2023, provides de-escalation support, including during mental health crises, and they provide referrals and resources. The program is expanding this year to Aurora Village Transit Center and Lake City Way.
SaFE Ambassadors, recognizable by their easy-to-spot blue jackets, answer questions and provide rider support. Currently deployed in the Central District, Mount Baker and Renton, the program expanded this year to add more ambassadors in Rainier Valley and the University District.
Resuming fare inspection
We’ve heard from community members, Metro employees and riders that paying the fare — along with being safe and showing respect — is one of the most important parts of the Rider Code of Conduct. Following a two-month fare education period, fare enforcement fully resumed on May 31, 2025.
We are already seeing an increase in the percentage of riders showing proof of payment. We want to connect every rider with the fare that is right for them — especially riders with lower incomes, riders with disabilities, seniors and youth. The ability to pay should never a barrier to taking transit.
Growing community and rider support
Surveys point to Metro making tangible progress on safety and security. More riders say they feel safer riding Metro, and satisfaction levels are at their highest levels since early 2020 and trending in the right direction.
Compared to fall 2024, Metro’s spring 2025 survey of riders and non-riders shows a 14-point improvement in the proportion of people who are satisfied with safety onboard at night (64%) and the same increase in the proportion of riders who are satisfied with safety while waiting for transit at night (57%). More than 83% of riders express satisfaction with personal safety while waiting for and riding the bus during the day. More work is needed to continue this momentum, and we expect our combined efforts will show further results.
We extend our appreciation to our transit colleagues, our riders and everyone participating in the King County Regional Transit Safety Task Force for your ongoing dedication to making our communities and transit safer. With your partnership on increasing safety for passengers and transit employees, Metro will continue to be one of the best ways to travel and a great place to work.
Michelle Allison is General Manager of King County Metro. Greg Woodfill is President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 587, Metro’s largest labor partner.
For effective POP fare inspection, many more than 30 inspectors are needed; Metro used 30 when fare inspection was suspended during Covid; since then, RR lines G and H have been added and the intent is to inspect the whole network. Please shift some security staff to fare inspection. It could be win-win-win: faster fare payment, faster service, better security, fewer fare disputes, fewer assaults of operators, and with more attractive service, more riders and fare revenue. Add inspectors please. they should have uniforms and cell phones.
Theres 30 transit police/fare enforcement officers and 1400 buses. “Regular” citizens and business riders no longer want to ride because of safety concerns. Drug abusers are allowed to ride without paying fare and not kicked off the bus for using drugs aboard the bus. We cannot utilize the bus shelters because they are occupied with drug dealers and users. The bus smells horribly from the stench from the unkept homeless population that overload the space. We are constantly being delayed getting to our destinations on time when the bus driver has to wait for someone to address unruly customers. That’s fine you want to get partitions for the bus drivers, but it’s way too late, look at what happened to that bus driver last year. What happens to us that ride the bus and have to sit next to these people that are slumped over, smelly and not afraid to light up their drugs? How will you keep us safe, and don’t say fare enforcement. You announced fare enforcement in effect March 2025, still not happening. I’ve seen other passengers downright abusive towards your drivers, and I didn’t see anything done. The driver told me they are not allowed to kick anyone off the bus. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and seeing. I won’t ride with my children and have them subject to this egregious, untamed, unhealthy, hostile and toxic environment. Unaccompanied youth are riding your buses this summer, how will you keep them from being touched or inhaling secondhand fentanyl or meth smoke, being stuck by left behind hypodermic needles? I am just an Admin at City Hall that wishes I were amongst the hierarchy to fire some of you in management that were hired to make a difference and you’re not.
I cannot agree more to what was said here! Absolutely everything here was absolutely accurate, and a shame that it is that way! There is no way just 30 officers can help the many buses and bus routes out there. Also, there are so many issues that drivers face. It is dangerous out there, and I cannot express enough how there are barely people commuting, and a majority of people doing drugs or simply riding because they’re homeless, and riding for the connivence of somewhere temperature regulated. We need help. We are not safe in anyway. I will use every opportunity I have to express this!
Once again, Seattle only. Nothing for South King County because Metro doesn’t care about South King County. Which is a reflection of King County Government as a whole.