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Jul 8, 2009 10:24 pm US/Central
Metro Transit Buses Caught Running Red Lights
(WCCO)
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WCCO cameras caught several bus drivers apparently disregarding the stop light on the corner of 4th Street and 3rd Avenue South near Minneapolis City Hall. (File)
CBS
After seeing a Metro Transit bus run a red light once Monday, downtown worker Paul Smith was on the lookout. It didn't take long for WCCO cameras to catch several bus drivers run even more red lights.
Metro Transit is investigating incidents of buses running through red lights downtown Minneapolis.
WCCO cameras caught several bus drivers apparently disregarding the stop light on the corner of 4th St. and 3rd Ave. South near Minneapolis City Hall.
Images of the illegal moves caused Metro Transit to take action.
"When I saw the bus coming I just took out my handy cell phone and recorded it," said Smith.
He says he captured an image of a bus in the crosswalk when a woman at the curb has the green light.
"That's a big concern because if a pedestrian isn't alert, they might step out in front of a bus," said Smith.
Others also notice what they call dangerous driving on this one way bus lane.
"The buses typically blow through the lights and, I mean, there are a couple times where your friends pull you back so you don't get hit," said concerned pedestrian Carol Kayser.
Smith e-mailed his picture to Metro Transit.
"That matter is under investigation," said Metro Transit Spokesperson Bob Gibbons.
On Wednesday, WCCO's Darcy Pohland did a little surveillance of her own.
It took less than 15 minutes on the corner of 4th St. and 3rd Ave. South to see a Metro Transit bus run a red light and that was only the beginning.
One bus after another went through red lights.
"They ought to monitor their drivers more closely," said Kayser.
"If we're running a red light, we're putting the public at risk and we shouldn't do that. We're professionals, we're held to a higher standard," said Gibbons.
Driving through yellow is even against Metro Transit rules.
"I'll go in and talk to our bus transportation staff and recommend to them that we put supervisors on street by the bus lane you described so we can observe it ourselves," said Gibbons.
Metro Transit leaders say they can't talk about whether any drivers are in trouble for the picture or video you saw in that story.
If you think a bus driver is being unsafe: There's a place to leave a complaint.
Metro Transit says it does take action. If a driver has four violations: He or she may be fired.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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