Philadelphia tests bullet-resistant glass enclosures aimed at protecting bus drivers

Philadelphia's public transit system is moving forward with plans to test-run bullet-resistant glass enclosures for drivers on city buses, joining other cities hoping to provide more protection for drivers who often face violence and harassment from passengers.

Law enforcement officers fired at a prototype and other samples of the material used in the enclosures in a demonstration staged Tuesday in Bedminster by Custom Glass Solutions, the firm that's making the cockpit-like enclosures.

They are among safety improvements included in a new contract the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, the nation's sixth-largest mass transit system, reached in November with its biggest workers union.

SEPTA said it initially will run eight buses with the compartments to see what, if any, adjustments are needed and to get driver feedback. Those buses are expected to start moving out within a few weeks.

It costs about $15,000 to $18,000 to outfit a bus with the enclosure, said Tony Ritchie, Custom Glass Solutions' business development manager. He said bus operators and transit union officials from Houston, Miami and other major cities attended the demonstration.

“The entire barrier — the glass, the door — nobody’s getting through this,” Ritchie said. "We decided to come up with a barrier that provided the ultimate protection, so transit authorities wouldn’t need to keep revisiting this problem over and over again. This absolutely is going to save tons of lives.”

Philadelphia moved to install the compartments in part after the fatal shooting of a SEPTA bus driver by a passenger in October 2023. Safety concerns were raised again last year following a spate of shootings on the transit system, including one in which eight high school students waiting to board a SEPTA bus after class were wounded by gunshots from suspects who jumped from a car and opened fire.

Philadelphia is among several major U.S. cities working to improve driver safety by installing driver cockpits or other partitions. In December, Los Angeles Metro announced it had completed installation of shatterproof glass barriers on its more than 2,000 buses.

John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union of America, said attacks on bus drivers is “the dirty secret of public transit in America.” He said that in New York City and Philadelphia combined there are more than 20 assaults a week against operators.

“Anybody who thinks (these types of enclosures) are not necessary should get behind the wheel of a bus in urban America,” Samuelsen said.

Associated Press Video Journalist Tassanee Vejpongsa contributed to this story.

People inspect a sample of the material used in bullet-resistant enclosures to be installed on buses, after it was fired pond during a demonstration at a range in Bedminster, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People inspect a sample of the material used in bullet-resistant enclosures to be installed on buses, after it was fired pond during a demonstration at a range in Bedminster, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People inspect bullet-resistant enclosures to be installed on buses, after it was fired pond during a demonstration at a range in Bedminster, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Tyson Brown, president of Transportation Workers Union Local 208, photographs a sample of the material used in bullet-resistant enclosures to be installed on buses, that was fired upon at a range in Bedminster, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

An officer fires a weapon at a sample of the material used in bullet-resistant enclosures to be installed on buses, at a range in Bedminster, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

An officer fires a weapon at a sample of the material used in bullet-resistant enclosures to be installed on buses, at a range in Bedminster, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja has announced he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Ashes test beginning Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

He didn't go quietly.

The Pakistan-born Khawaja, who was the first Muslim to play for Australia, used his retirement announcement Friday to criticize the “racial" stereotyping he experienced during his career.

It will be the 39-year-old Khawaja's 88th and final test — played at the ground where he began his first-class career. Khawaja scored his first Ashes century at the SCG with 171 against England in 2018.

It was also at that the SCG where he revived his career at age 35, scoring two centuries against England. That prompted one of the great late-career revivals, as Khawaja hit seven centuries in his next two years back in the side.

But Khawaja’s position had come under scrutiny and criticism this season after being unable to open in the first Ashes test in Perth due to back spasms and then missing the Brisbane test with the injury.

He was then initially left out in Adelaide until Steve Smith’s vertigo allowed Khawaja to return, before an 82 in the first innings there ensured he would stay in the side for the fourth test in Melbourne. Australia, with a 3-1 lead going into the fifth test, has retained the Ashes.

Khawaja said he felt he was treated “a little bit different, even to now,” because of his Pakistan and Muslim background.

"Different in the way I’ve been treated, different in how things have happened,” he said at a media conference in Sydney. “I had back spasms, it was something I couldn’t control. The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me . . . I copped it for about five days straight. Everyone was piling in.

“Once the racial stereotypes came in, of me being lazy, it was things I’ve dealt with my whole life. Pakistani, West Indian, colored players...we’re selfish, we only care about ourselves, we don’t care about the team, we don’t train hard enough."

Khawaja said he knew the end of his career was imminent.

“I guess moving into this series, I had an inkling this would be the last series," he said. "I’m glad I can go out on my own terms.”

Khawaja has scored 6,206 runs at an average of 43.49 in his 87 tests with 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries.

“Usman has made a huge contribution to Australian cricket both through his outstanding achievements as one of our most stylish and resilient batters . . . and off field, particularly through the Usman Khawaja Foundation,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said in a statement.

“Usman has been one of Australia’s most reliable opening batters and testament to his success was him being named ICC test cricketer of the year the same season that Australia won the World Test Championship (in 2023).”

Khawaja said his No. 1 emotion on announcing his retirement was “contentment.”

“I’m very lucky to have played so many games for Australia the way I have,” Khawaja said. "I hope I have inspired people along the way.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja with his wife Rachel and daughters Aisha and Ayla after announcing that he will retire from international cricket following the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Usman Khawaja, centre, sits with teammates after announcing he will retire from international cricket following the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Usman Khawaja warms up during a practice session ahead of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia's Travis Head, right, is congratulated by teammate Usman Khawaja after reaching 50 runs during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Usman Khawaja sign autograph to fans after they won the third Ashes cricket test match against England in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 (AP Photo/James Elsby)