Maine committee backs $1 million to retrofit transit buses with driver safety barriers

The Joint Standing Committee on Transportation voted unanimously on Jan. 30 to recommend LD 2062 'ought to pass as amended,' advancing a bill to require protective vehicle barriers for transit bus operators and to fund retrofits.

Under the committee’s amendment, the sponsor’s changes remain the baseline and the Legislature would appropriate a one‑time $1,000,000 from the General Fund (reduced from the originally proposed $2,000,000) to retrofit older heavy‑duty transit buses. The amendment clarifies that newly purchased buses must come equipped with driver protective barriers at the transit authority’s cost and sets an implementation timetable (committee discussed an August 1, 2029 target as part of compliance language) and reporting requirements for transit agencies to DOT. The committee directed analysts to finalize statutory language that references the Federal Transit Administration definition for "large heavy duty transit buses."

Members debated the scale and the structure of funding. Testimony and committee discussion narrowed the likely retrofit universe to roughly 70–80 vehicles in major metropolitan areas, with per‑vehicle retrofit cost estimates in testimony of roughly $5,000–$8,000 each; committee members discussed a cushion for maintenance and the risk that transit districts might purchase used buses without such protections. Senator Nangle emphasized that new buses should be ordered with shields at the transit authority’s expense and that transit authorities should pursue federal and state grant funding before tapping the state appropriation.

Representative Perry moved the motion to report the bill out 'ought to pass as amended'; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously by those present. The bill will proceed to language review and later to the Appropriations Committee for a fiscal note and final funding decisions.