Shortage of bus drivers and riders affecting some MTS routes

Wanted: Metropolitan Transit Service bus operators to offset a current personnel shortage causing a temporary 5% reduction from current levels on City buses translating into reduced service extending waiting times on some routes.

MTS currently has about 1,200 bus operators, said Mark Olson, director of marketing and communications for MTS.

“It’s a bus operator shortage that’s the real challenge,” said Olson, adding bus ridership is down as well. “Our current bus ridership has dipped down a little with the latest pandemic surge to 65% to 70% of pre-COVID levels,” he said. “All the routes will still be here. We’re not eliminating any of the routes, though some of the more high-frequency routes will go from every 12 to every 15 minutes, 15 to 20 minutes, or 20 to 30 minutes.”
Added Olson, “This will be temporary. We’ll take a look at it in the next few months.”

Olson noted COVID has depleted the ranks of MTS bus operators. “From day to day, we just don’t know what’s going to happen because some operators have tested positive and they’ve been quarantined,” he said.

In the longer term, Olson pointed out the number of operators has declined due to a variety of factors including people wanting to spend more time with their families and retirements.

To address the current personnel shortage, Olson said MTS is “offering hiring bonuses for key positions and improving pay for bus operators. We’ve even done job offers on the spot for new (qualified) operators, as well as offering free health care for them right now for two years.”

Though it’s frustrating having to wait longer for service on some bus routes, Olson urged bus riders not to take it out on their bus operators because “they came to work that day and ran that route. They’re the ones that showed.”

Given that the pandemic has been going on for nearly two years, Olson said “overall bus operators have done a really good job of staying healthy as much as possible, so we haven’t had these types of shortages in the past. It’s only been most recently with this latest surge.”

“It’s a tough environment right now but we’re working through it,” concluded Olson of the present personnel shortage. “We’re asking for patience from our riders, particularly where our bus operators are concerned.”

Service changes to MTS service effective Sunday, Jan. 30.
The following routes will have temporary schedule reductions due to a shortage of drivers. Weekdays: Routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 215, 225, 701, 815, 929, 933/934, and 955. Saturdays: Routes 2, 6, and 7. Sundays: Route 7.

• Some periods of 10-12-min. frequency will operate with a 12-15-min. frequency instead.

• Some periods of 15-min. frequency will operate with a 20-min. frequency instead.

• Some periods of 20-min. frequency will operate with a 30-minute frequency instead.

• Passengers can visit sdmts.com for real time updates.

Process for becoming an MTS bus operator:

Fill out an application at https://www.sdmts.com/inside-mts/careers

Minimum requirements include, but are not limited to:

21 years of age or older;

Valid CA driver’s license;

Satisfactory driving record.

Receive invitation for in-person interview.

Successful candidates must pass all applicable examinations, including, but are not limited to: