L.A. Metro riders experienced significant delays on more than 25 bus lines Friday as the agency dealt with staffing shortages from a possible “sickout” by drivers protesting the recent violence on the transit system.
L.A. Metro confirmed that more staff called out sick than usual. The agency also said on social media it’s deploying as many people as possible to try and make up for the missed service on the most affected routes.
“We appeal to our operators to reconsider the impact their plan to call in sick will have on some of the most vulnerable people in the county,” the agency said in a statement.
Update 2:25 pm:
We may experience significant delays this afternoon and early evening on the following bus lines due to staff shortages: 2, 10, 14, 18, 40, 45, 48, 66, 70, 76, 78, 81, 105, 108, 110, 111, 115, 117, 127, 180, 182, 204, 206, 210, 212, 217, 251, 260 and 344. pic.twitter.com/A6I3zqt88G
— LA Metro Rider Alerts (@metrolaalerts) May 3, 2024
About the delays
The bus delays multiplied as Friday wore on, jumping from six lines shortly after 5 a.m. to nearly 30 by around 2:30 p.m.
The routes stretch across the transit system, including Lincoln Heights, Playa Del Rey, and Hollywood.
A Reddit user posted early Friday that their bus operator had warned regular riders that a lot of staff wouldn’t be showing up to work because of “the lack of concern for their safety” from L.A. Metro.
The user wrote that they didn’t believe it until four buses didn’t arrive and they ended up taking an Uber.
Metro responds
The transit agency said in a statement that bus operators are the “lifeblood”…
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