Established in 2023, the Bus Design Innovation Program is a new collaborative model that brings together academia, operators and transit agencies to design, implement, and test safety features on transit buses.
We envision a future where the design of every transit bus centers the experience of workers to deliver the best possible service. Through collaboration between labor, management, and academia, we aim to create a new transit industry standard where research-validated and human-centered design is at the forefront.
Our mission is to improve transit bus design through collaboration, making buses safer and easier to operate while improving access for passengers. We focus on practical solutions to reduce operator assaults, eliminate blind spots, and mitigate collision impacts. The goal is a safer, more modern transit experience for operators, riders and the communities they serve now and in the future.
Our goal is to advance worker driven, human centered bus design through collaborative projects, including fully enclosed retrofit barriers, operator workspace redesign, and blind spot reduction. As the program advances, we are dedicated to pursuing new lines of research and testing, never losing sight of our commitment to improving transit safety.
As the people who spend the most time behind the wheel, bus operators have firsthand insight into how vehicle design decisions affect both employees and customers. With support from ATU Local 113 and BDIP co-chairs, operators help identify challenges, create and test solutions, and provide valuable feedback throughout the design process.
Some challenges require deeper research and data analysis. Through Centennial College’s Transit Lab, researchers study issues such as operator visibility, ergonomics, and vehicle performance, helping transform observations into evidence-based solutions.
Transit agencies provide real-world environments to test emerging technologies and design concepts. Through the commitment of the TTC, their support helps ensure successful BDIP innovations can be incorporated into future bus procurements.
Sample project – Fully Enclosed Bus Barriers
How can we improve operator safety and protect workers from assault with fully enclosed barriers while maintaining clear visibility and minimizing glare?
The TTC evaluated multiple barrier prototypes from manufacturers, students, and workers by installing them on demonstration buses for field testing.
Through the TTC and Local 113’s Joint Health and Safety Committees, more than 1,900+ operators from 8 divisions shared their experiences and provided feedback on the different designs.
Workers participated in barrier roadshows to evaluate and rank design features. The highest-rated barrier selected by ATU members will be included in the TTC’s next bus procurement.
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ provides quick answers about the Bus Design Innovation Program, its purpose, partners, and expected impact for transit operators, riders, and communities.
Established in 2023 following growing concern over the rise in assaults on transit workers, the Bus Design Innovation Program (BDIP) is unique collaborative initiative that brings together the Amalgamated Transit Union International (ATU), ATU Local 113, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), and Centennial College to tackle bus design improvement through a worker centered approach.
BDIP has grown past its original impetus of addressing transit worker assaults, now taking on challenges such as blind spots, workspace ergonomics, visibility, collision impact mitigation, passenger access, and features that reduce strain and stress during service. Through the consortium of workers, academics, and agency representatives, BDIP is carving a path forward in bettering public transportation for everyone.
Potential changes can be tested through mock-ups, prototypes, operator evaluations, pilot vehicles, simulation, and controlled service trials. Testing helps confirm that improvements support safety and operations before they are adopted more broadly.
Success can be measured by improvements in operator safety, reduced injury risks, better sightlines, reduced strain, stronger operator feedback, and adoption of safer design standards by transit agencies and manufacturers.
Academia supports research, data analysis, ergonomic studies, human factors testing, and evaluation of pilot projects. Their involvement can help turn operator experience into evidence-based recommendations for safer bus design.
Manufacturer participation is critical for translating operator and agency feedback into practical design improvements. Their involvement helps ensure that proposed changes are technically feasible, scalable, and aligned with vehicle production requirements.
Safer and better-designed buses can improve service reliability, passenger access, and public confidence in transit. When operators are safer and better supported, the overall transit experience can improve for riders and the communities served.
The program recognizes that operator safety and passenger access must work together. Design changes should protect operators while maintaining clear communication, accessibility, efficient boarding, and positive experiences for riders.
While BDIP is a unique collaboration between the Amalgamated Transit Union International (ATU), ATU Local 133, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), and Centennial College, our goal is for this framework to expand across North America. We believe transit at its safest and most efficient when agencies, workers, and academics work together. We are happy to be a reference for those interested in building similar programs, including sharing terms of governance, design and testing setup, and data.
