GoDurham bus drivers, concerned about safety, to address City Council Thursday

GoDurham bus drivers on Wednesday said they have growing concerns about safety on the buses and plan to bring the issue up to Durham City Council.

They say they are concerned about bus safety, adding that the issue affects both drivers and passengers.

“We are being threatened and attacked as well,” Khalit Harley said. “We’re transporting crime throughout the city.”

One bus driver said in November, gunfire hit a driver’s bus, and to their knowledge, there were no prosecutions.

“Nobody was injured, but you can imagine the level of terror that’s going to stay with the driver and the passengers for the rest of their lives,” Sara Maxwell said. “We start worrying that the city doesn’t care as much about the driver and the passengers.”

Drivers told WRAL News they’ve experienced robberies, assaults and more while they are driving the buses.

“It’s really getting bad,” Harley said. “There’s a shortage of bus drivers [and] a shortage of police officers, so the response time is taking too long.”

Drivers want the City Council to work with the police department and District Attorney’s office to hold suspects accountable and beef up security.

“If it seems too dangerous for drivers, drivers are going to start leaving,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell, Harley and other bus drivers said they would speak at the council’s work session.

The meeting starts at 1 p.m. Thursday in City Hall.