Like transit agencies across the country, MTS and NCTD struggle to find drivers amid increasing ridership
With more workers returning to the office and gas prices higher than ever, it’s no surprise there’s growing interest in public transportation — as borne out by increasing ridership.
Local transit districts say they are struggling with the situation, but getting by. Like some other public transportation agencies, they have beefed up pay and are offering signing bonuses to attract new drivers. Disruptions due to driver shortages won’t help that cause. Most people — including more than 70 percent of MTS riders — take transit because they do not have a car. But much of the hoped-for increase in ridership must come from “choice” riders who have access to a car. That puts a premium on the reliability, convenience and comparative cost of mass transit.
“It’s been a challenge, but we’re holding on,” said Mark Olson, director of marketing and communications at MTS. MTS has 484 bus operators fully certified and trained, with 13 drivers in training. That’s below the 540 certified drivers MTS would like to have, Olson said. Bus drivers were essential, front-line workers during the pandemic and had to enforce mask-wearing requirements. At times, they had to keep people from boarding because the bus had reached social-distancing rider limits. That didn’t always sit well with some would-be riders.
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