King County Metro Transit, San Diego MTS, state of California take steps to improve safety on public transit

King County Metro Transit, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the state of California have taken steps to improve safety on public transit systems. 

King County Metro takes steps to ensure safety for operators and riders  

The King County Regional Transit Safety Task Force has identified opportunities to coordinate across sectors to prevent, deter and ensure people are following the agency’s Code of Conduct on, at and near transit.  

According to the agency, many of the recommended solutions from the Regional Transit Safety Task Force focus on putting resources and systems in place to prevent incidents from occurring or severely escalating. The agency has requested additional funding to continue and expand its behavioral health and ambassador programs and make the increased transit security and the Metro Transit Police presence permanent. 

King County Metro is also working to install operator safety partitions on all buses, implement enhanced training for 100% of frontline workers and implement additional safety communications so that employees are better equipped in handling security incidents. The agency plans to complete the efforts within the next 12-18 months.  

The agency is also reducing its internal response times by improving internal mechanisms and making sure that whoever does respond has the trauma-informed training to lead with care in how they respond to affected employees. King County Metro says it is committed to provide employees with expanded wellness resources needed to recover from incidents. The agency has started surveying bus operators who press the emergency alarm button on board the bus after the fact to see what the response was like, where there are gaps and how the agency can improve.  

According to the agency, the Regional Transit Safety Task Force reported the current methods for riders to share safety concerns, both emergent and non-emergent, were unclear or insufficient. As a result, the agency is requesting for a capital improvement project to improve the rider reporting experience. 

San Diego MTS sees significant drop in transit-related crime 

San Diego MTS saw a 24% drop in crime across its network—marking a significant step forward in its commitment to passenger safety. According to the agency, the reduction in crime comes less than two years after the launch of a comprehensive security initiative to make the system safer. 

The agency’s Transit Security and Passenger Safety Department shows that from January through August 2025, 969 crimes were reported on its services—just 76% of the 1,274 incidents reported during the same period in 2024. 

“Taking a comprehensive look at passenger safety over the past several years has been our top priority, and these results show the impact of our ongoing efforts to make [San Diego] MTS a secure and welcoming transit system for all riders,” said San Diego MTS Board Chair Pro Tem and San Diego County District 4 Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe. “We’re committed to building on this progress by working closely with [San Diego] MTS staff and the community to ensure all riders feel secure and supported on our buses and Trolleys.” 

The agency notes that crimes on the Trolley network decreased 14.6% while bus routes saw a 53.1% reduction. In early 2024, San Diego MTS rolled out several security measures in an effort to grow ridership, including: 

• Better coverage: Increasing the number of Code Compliance Inspectors by 60% to add more visibility and coverage to the system. 
• Fare compliance: Getting better fare compliance from riders by implementing a stricter fare enforcement policy. 
• Faster response: Consolidated the 24/7 security hotline into a single number for texting and calling and improved technology behind the scenes so incoming calls can be managed more efficiently. 
• Better visibility: Increased security train teams on Trolley lines from five to six teams per shift to eight to 10 teams per shift, which led to more frequent interactions between officers and riders, along with an increase in calls and text messages to San Diego MTS. 
• More patrols on buses: Doubled the bus enforcement security team to help extend security presence beyond major transit centers and Trolley lines. 
• Expanding coverage: Added security outposts at busy transit centers like San Ysidro, 12th & Imperial and El Cajon so officers spend more time on the system and less time traveling to/from headquarters. 

“We’ve been intentional with our improvements on a lot of fronts, and the results are beginning to show,” said San Diego MTS CEO Sharon Cooney. “We have been listening to our riders for a few years now through customer feedback, surveys and research that the top priority for riders is feeling safe while using the system. Ridership grew 7% last year and a big factor in that can be attributed to this reduction in crime.” 

The agency’s 2024 security initiative followed a 2022 customer survey that showed riders wanted a stronger security presence on the transit system. In response, the San Diego MTS Board approved a $4.2 million increase to the security budget in 2023. 

The 2024 customer satisfaction survey, conducted after the security initiatives were in place, found that 71% of bus riders and 63% of Trolley riders reported feeling safe on board. Riders were also five times more likely to say their satisfaction has improved compared to a year ago. 

San Diego MTS is also continuing to expand lighting infrastructure that makes customers feel safer as well, as three lighting projects are underway along the Orange Line Trolley between Lemon Grove and Barrio Logan; at an underpass near Beyer Blvd Trolley Stations; and a new solar lighting project at bus stops. 

The full report from the San Diego MTS Transit Security and Passenger Safety Department can be found on the agency’s website. 

 California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs new Assembly Bill (AB) 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed AB 394 into law. Authored by Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson (D-CA) and co-sponsored by the transit union, SMART-TD, AB394 helps protect transit riders by:   

• Making assaulting or battering a transit worker carry enhanced penalties. 
• Having stronger court protections for transit agencies, unions, or workers, as they can now seek restraining orders and injunctions that apply across an entire transit system, not just a single bus or station.   
• Waiving filing fees for petitions related to workplace harassment, stalking or violence, making it easier and faster for workers to get protection.   
• Courts can now ban repeat offenders from using an entire transit system if they are convicted of assaulting a worker.   

“The California Safety and Legislative Board is proud to congratulate Assemblywoman Wilson for her leadership in protecting transit workers with the signing of Assembly Bill 394,” said SMART-TD’s California State Safety and Legislative Director Louie Costa. “Our members frequently face threats of violence – and these incidents have steadily climbed over the past several years. AB 394 will enhance the penalties when individuals harm our members and transit riders and will give transit agencies more tools, they can use to keep transportation systems safe. AB 394 strengthens protections against assaults and harassment on public transit, giving our members greater safety and peace of mind while serving the public. We were proud to co-sponsor AB 394 along with the California Transit Association, Teamsters and the Amalgamated Transit Union. We also thank Gov. Newsom for signing AB 394 and acknowledging the need for enhanced protection for essential transit workers. The work to get this bill passed was a collaborative effort by the CSLB Executive Committee and several legislative representatives who made several trips to the Capitol in support.”