WASHINGTON — Metro announced a $2,500 pay incentive to help attract new bus drivers.
The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority said the incentive comes as the organization is looking to hire 70 new drivers to help operate 1,000 buses operating on 187 routes in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
The pandemic has caused a shortage of bus drivers around the country. In December—when several drivers were out during the omicron surge in the D.C. area—WMATA said the shortages could last through March 2022.
With this incentive pay, newly hired bus drivers would receive a $1,000 bonus in their first paycheck. After completing a 10-week training program, new hires would receive another bonus of $1,500 in their paychecks.
Metro General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld issued a statement that says bus drivers are "essential" to a region's well-being since they connect workers to jobs, activities and hospitals.
“We want operators with a passion for customer service and who understand how much the job they do matters to the lives of people every day,” Wiedefeld said.
Only a commercial driver's learning permit is required to apply to be a Metro bus driver and WMATA says it will help new bus drivers gain the experience needed to work.
Once training is completed, WMATA bus driver compensation starts at $25 per hour. Their salary includes overtime and benefits such as healthcare, retirement and paid time off—in addition to riding the Metro for free.
Buses are operating at around 60% of the level they were operating ahead of the pandemic, according to WMATA, with an average of 180,000 bus trips per day.