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    1. Safety & Security

    MTA equips all local buses with protective barriers

    Jan. 27, 2021
    The sliding barriers replace temporary barriers that had been installed to promote social distancing.
    Related To: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NY MTA)
    Marc A. Hermann/MTA New York City Transit
    MTA credits its Department of Buses Engineering personnel for accelerating installation of polycarbonate safety barriers on all 4,800 local buses.
    MTA credits its Department of Buses Engineering personnel for accelerating installation of polycarbonate safety barriers on all 4,800 local buses.

    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has completed installation of protective polycarbonate barriers on all 4,800 local buses that serve all five boroughs.

    MTA credits its Department of Buses Engineering personnel for working with the barrier manufacturer to install the barriers at an accelerated pace.

    Over the summer, the Department of Buses started the process of installing innovative barriers across the entire fleet. As a temporary measure, some buses were equipped with vinyl curtains. Those curtains have now been fully replaced with the polycarbonate sliders.

    Installations were coordinated and performed across 28 bus depots and three overhaul facilities with more than 17,000 hours of work going into installation, design, procurement and fabrication.

    “Our frontline heroes continue moving New York City during this pandemic and we are collaborating with our union partners to continue protecting both our employees and customers who are our first priority,” said President of the MTA Bus Company and Senior Vice President for Buses of New York City Transit Craig Cipriano. “We are thankful to our internal workforce, including Buses Engineering, who designed and installed these barriers and understood the importance and need to work efficiently to make sure all of our 4,800 local buses got the polycarbonate sliders.”

    “This is a significant accomplishment and a step in the right direction,” said Tony Utano, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100. “These barriers offer better protection for our bus operators. There’s still more work to be done and we will keep pushing forward.”

    All 1,000 express buses have a full-length vinyl curtain to isolate the bus operator when passengers board that can move forward and backward in place. The two front rows of seats on express buses remain blocked off to maintain social distancing between the bus operator and passengers. Additionally, MTA is currently in the development and early pilot stages to create a more permanent barrier for express buses, with installations expected to begin in the coming months.