New King County transit safety task force begins work following driver’s death

The inaugural meeting of the King County Regional Transit Safety Task Force kicked off Thursday morning in South Seattle.

The task force was born out of the tragic December murder of driver Shawn Yim. It will include members of the King County Council, the Metro Bus union and law enforcement to develop a safety plan to improve transit safety and security.

Amalgamated Transit Union President Greg Woodfill previously called for the task force and said the situation is dire.

“Public safety issues spill onto our transit system, and it can’t just be metro or the county or Sound Transit to take care of all this,” he said. “We need all the mayors and police chiefs, everyone to work together.”

The task force will meet regularly through the spring and then come up with an initial list of safety recommendations.

“While we continue to take proactive steps to support our employees and riders, a regional approach will tackle the broader challenges that can negatively affect transit,” King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison said. “Making our communities and neighborhoods safer will, in turn, make public transportation safer.”

Bus drivers identify issues amid King County transit safety task force

Bus drivers have identified a few specific actions they believe would make both them and the ridership safer, such as better barriers separating them from riders and an updated, enforced code of conduct for riders. They also want fare enforcement and security measures at bus stops, such as more lighting.

Yim was attacked with pepper spray after a rider demanded the 59-year-old bus driver close his window, according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD). Investigators said that the attack spilled off the bus where the suspect, 53-year-old Richard Sitzlack, kicked Yim before dragging him into a nearby parking lot and stabbing him to death.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; James Lynch, Frank Lenzi and Luke Duecy, KIRO Newsradio; KIRO 7