DALLAS — DART is increasing security on buses after one of its drivers was allegedly attacked.
Earlier this month, a female driver said she was assaulted by two men who were on her bus. The transit agency is investigating.
"They started their physical assault, hitting her," said Kenneth Day, president of the union representing bus drivers. "They attempted to run hands down her pants, pulled her out of the seat, thrown to the floor, kicked, hit... it was pretty bad."
The employee has not been back to work since the attack.
Kenneth Day said 45 employees — mostly bus drivers — have filed compliants over the past year claiming they were also assaulted.
While some drivers say they have been verbally abused, union officials say the number of physical attacks has grown.
"We've had several assaults against bus drivers that we feel are not being seriously addressed or pursued by DART," Day said.
The transit agency has its own police force that investigates these compliants.
DART officials would not release records of any incidents currently under investigation, but it did discuss new measures now being impemented.
"Over the next few months to years, we will have cameras deployed on all of our equipment as well as our facilities," said Tim Newby, DART's vice resident of bus operations.
Newby issued a memo to employees spelling out the new measures.
Starting this week, DART is also offering self-defense classes for its operators. It is also looking at routes to determine safer locations for buses to wait.
"We are very concerned about their safety," Newby said.
E-mail ccivale@wfaa.com
