LACMTA Operators Benefit from Year of Safety Wins

For the second year in a row, SMART-TD General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 875 (Los Angeles, Calif.) leads the way in transit safety improvements for our brothers and sisters who work for Los Angeles County Metro Transportation Authority (LACMTA). This comes at a time when attacks on Operators show no signs of slowing down on both a local and national level.

Building off its 2024 successes, GCA-875 notched several major achievements in 2025. In particular, the successful installation of Operator barriers across the entire Metro bus fleet has demonstrated a significant improvement in the safety of our members. By continuing to advance safety, technology, and workforce excellence, GCA-875 is ensuring that its members remain protected, supported, and prepared for the future of public transportation.

GCA-875 Sets the Standard for Operator Safety Industry-Wide

One of GCA-875’s biggest accomplishments in 2024 was the creation of the Los Angeles Transit Police Department, which focuses on safeguarding both passengers and Operators.

In July of 2025, GCA leadership met with Metro’s new Chief of Police William Scott and its in-house police department to discuss its future collaborative efforts. Chief Scott plans to hire approximately 700 officers to strengthen safety across the transit system and provide even more protection for SMART-TD Operators.

An incident in October of 2025 underscores why the need for improved safety across the transit agency is critical.

While Brother Kerry Stuart (Local 1564, Los Angeles, Calif.) was on duty, one of his passengers was violently assaulted by another rider and sustained a serious neck injury.

Borther Stuart didn’t hesitate and took decisive action. He removed his shirt, applied pressure to the wound and remained with the injured passenger until medical help arrived. His quick thinking and bravery were instrumental in saving the passenger’s life, and he was honored for his heroic actions.

New Pilot Program Enhances Operator Awareness

With input from SMART-TD, Metro continues to advance safety innovation with pilot programs for the Mobileye Shield+ Collision Avoidance System and the Luminator Video Mirror System, new technologies designed to enhance Operator awareness and reduce roadway risks.

The Luminator Video Mirror provides some of the following benefits to Operators…

• Increased safety: The system alerts the driver of a potential danger in the blind spot area by switching on a light. This allows the driver to have an optimized view of their environment.
• Reduced driver fatigue, including less strain on the eyes
• Integrated systems to ensure that cameras can always take critical images

Projects Honored with Multiple Prestigious Awards

Held in March of 2025, Metro’s annual Moscars Awards celebrate excellence throughout the agency, and GCA-875 and its officers received special recognition for both their leadership and dedication in successfully completing the Operator Barrier Project across the entire Metro bus fleet.

The completion of the barrier installations marks a major milestone in enhancing Operator safety system-wide. The commitment, persistence, and collaboration demonstrated by SMART leadership and Metro partners were instrumental in bringing this project to full completion.

Just three months later, GCA-875 General Chairperson John M. Ellis and LACMTA CEO Stephanie Wiggins accepted an award for “Project of the Year” for the same initiative at the annual California Transportation Foundation Awards, highlighting the project’s impact on safety, innovation, and labor-management collaboration.

Effort to Protect Operators is Rooted in Teamwork

As General Chairman Ellis explains, the strong partnership between Metro and SMART-TD underscores what’s possible when labor and management work constructively to improve the safety of Operators system-wide. “Through a joint collaborative effort with Metro, we will continue to protect our Operators with the latest technology available,” he said.