OC Transpo will begin to install permanent operator barriers late April on its bus fleet.
More than 750 articulated, double-decker and 40-foot buses will be equipped with an operator barrier by the end of August 2021.
Operator barriers, also known as shields, improve the workplace safety of bus operators and enhance the overall safety of customers by preventing access to the bus operator’s area and helping to prevent the transmission of viruses, like COVID-19.
The permanent operator barriers are made of a hard plastic and will replace the soft plastic barriers that were temporarily installed in spring 2020. Installation of the new barriers begins at the end of April and will continue throughout the summer with no impact to service. Moving forward, any new buses entering the fleet will be equipped with a permanent barrier.
In April 2019, OC Transpo undertook a pilot project that tested two different barrier types on 12 buses in operation on a variety of routes. Feedback received during the testing period from bus operators and customers helped to determine the final barrier type and installation.
