Brockton Public Safety Committee November 2, 2026

The Brockton City Council Public Safety Committee met on November 2, 2026, to discuss safety on Brockton Area Transit (BAT) buses. BAT Administrator Michael Lambert was unable to attend but submitted a statement saying safety is a priority, that BAT works with its operating contractor, Transdev, on training and performance, and that BAT’s injury rate is at least 90% below the national average for transit agencies. Rider Richard Ripley described alleged incidents involving elderly and disabled passengers, wheelchair securement, driver conduct, destination signs, language barriers, and delayed responses to complaints. He proposed multilingual safety information and other measures. These claims were presented by the rider and were not independently established during the meeting.

Ripley also cited an annual city contribution of approximately $2.9 million toward BAT’s operating budget. A committee member clarified that funding is deducted from the city’s state general government aid allotment, and noted that the council does not directly employ BAT staff or oversee the administrator. The committee voted to recommend the matter favorably; no contract award, procurement action, or spending approval was identified.