Body Shop technicians have been asked to come up with creative solutions more than once since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Their latest invention: Temporary shields, fashioned largely from recycled bus parts, that will help safeguard operators and customers who pass each other at the front of the bus.
"We've been called upon often to rise to the occasion during the pandemic," Project Manager Anthony Zessman said. "And, every day we're finding solutions."
The temporary shields are being installed on buses that have not been equipped with full barriers, and will eventually be replaced by those larger, permanent barriers. Installation of the larger barriers will resume later this summer and continue over the next year.
In addition to the temporary shields, Body Shop technicians created movable aisle barriers that encourage customers to avoid the driver's area and barriers that are being used at temperature checkpoints at Metro Transit work sites.
The aisle barriers will be removed when on-board fare collection resumes and customers again enter through the front door.
"I'm proud of the work we're doing to help keep bus operators and customers safe," Zessman said.