LA safety innovations lead the nation! 

In 2024, SMART-TD LACMTA General Committee (GO-875) led groundbreaking efforts to improve safety for the transit Operators and other union members in Los Angeles amid a rise in violence against bus Operators. The year saw alarming incidents, including armed bus hijackings and assaults on Operators with deadly weapons. In response, SMART-TD, under the leadership of Vice Presidents Alvy Hughes and James Sandoval, General Chairperson John M. Ellis, and California Safety and Legislative Director Louis Costa, advocated for immediate changes to protect workers. 

A major achievement was the creation of the Los Angeles Transit Police Department, a collaboration with MTA’s CEO, Stephanie Wiggins and Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass. This new force will focus on safeguarding both passengers and Operators, providing a visible security presence on buses, rail, divisions, and stations. 

In addition, SMART-TD successfully pushed for the rapid installation of a fully enclosed driver compartment for bus Operators, a measure designed to protect them from the rising trend of assaults. By December 2024, all L.A. Metro buses will be equipped with these protective barriers thanks to GC Ellis and SMART-TD’s Bus Department. 

Further pushing the envelope, SMART-TD leaders attended a global transit safety conference in Berlin and brought back innovative ideas to improve safety, including AI-powered cameras with facial recognition and weapon detection. These cameras are currently being tested on Metro Light Rail with plans to be expanded to L.A. Metro buses. 

The union’s success in securing these safety reforms serves as a model for transit systems nationwide. These initiatives demonstrate how collective action and strategic advocacy can transform worker safety and set new standards for public transit systems across the U.S. and beyond. 

General Chairperson John M Ellis reiterated to SMART News:  

“I am proud to have been part of a major safety improvement making L.A. Metro the first transit agency across the nation to have totally enclosed the driver’s compartment from the riding public.  

I look forward to see the day that Metros very own dedicated Transit Police become a reality and they can solely protect our membership, who I call Metro Heroes.”