Metro’s largest union says it has reached an agreement with WMATA so that only drivers protected by glass shields have to quote the fare to riders.
“Bus operators will only be required to quote the fare when operating a bus equipped with a fully enclosed operator workstation,” ATU Local 689 said in a statement Thursday.
The updated guidance comes more than a month after a man repeatedly punched a Metrobus driver who told him the bus fare and that he couldn’t bring an open alcoholic beverage on board.
Drivers voiced concerns about their safety after Metro brought back the “quote the fare” policy in May in an effort to crack down on fare evasion. The transit agency said it was losing millions of dollars each year because of riders who weren’t paying.
After a Metrobus driver took a beating from a rider after quoting the fare for them, the union wants policy changed. Transportation reporter Adam Tuss explains.
The union said Thursday its agreement with Metro addresses their concerns about fare compliance while also keeping the safety of its members a priority.
Metro General Manager Randy Clarke said in August the agency had invested more than $15 million in bus operator shields and about 450 buses were 100% enclosed. “All the rest of them are about 85%, with a contract that’s already in place,” he said.
WMATA expects the entire fleet will have fully enclosed operator stations by May 31, 2027.
Metro says it will remove people who don’t pay for their bus fare. News4’s Adam Tuss spoke to drivers worried about their safety amid the crackdown.
