A new state law is cracking down on violence against Colorado transit workers. It makes assaulting a bus or train operator a crime, along with serious consequences.
Nationwide between 2008 and 2022, major assaults on transit workers near tripled. These are defined by the Federal Transit Administration as incidents resulting in fatalities or injuries requiring medical transport.
In 2024, the FTA issued a general directive mandating transit agencies nationwide to assess and mitigate risks associated with assaults on transit workers. Agencies are now required to conduct safety assessments and implement strategies to enhance worker safety.
Ronald Short was a longtime bus driver. He is now the acting recording secretary for transit union ATU Local 1001. For Short, transit workers are essential…