Bus Operator Safety and Security Act

The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act amends title 49, United States Code, to enhance safety for operators of fixed route buses. Its primary purpose is to establish requirements for operator workstations on certain new buses purchased with federal funds, aiming to protect drivers from potential threats. Specifically, beginning two years after the bill's enactment, any new fixed route bus measuring 30 feet or more in length with a useful life of at least 10 years, purchased with federal funds (excluding section 5311 funds), must be equipped with a protective barrier. This barrier must extend from the bus floor to the ceiling, be capable of fully enclosing the workstation to prevent the entry of persons, fluids, and objects, and crucially, must not impede the operator's lines of sight. A key provision allows for a waiver of this requirement if a labor organization representing the majority of the frontline workforce agrees to it.