The Safe Transit Act would tie some federal transit funding to crime prevention and safety measures. It would require many transit systems serving urban areas of 200,000 people or more to set safety targets, report progress, and use at least 3% of certain federal funds for safety projects. Smaller urban areas may receive a lower set-aside. The bill would also require passenger apps for reporting assaults and safety problems, cameras and event recorders on newly funded vehicles, and systems to prevent fare evasion. Some funding could be withheld if recipients or local governments do not meet the bill’s requirements. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to committee; it is not described as enacted.
Riders on covered systems could get an app to report assaults and safety problems. Transit agencies could use funds for lighting, cameras, security staff, fare enforcement, and other safety projects. Covered systems would also display a letter grade and, in some cases, post images of people captured committing crimes for at least 45 days. The bill would require local laws in areas receiving certain funding to make fare evasion a criminal offense, ban people convicted of assault or other violent crimes from the system, and not allow release before trial on personal recognizance or an unsecured bond for people charged with a crime on transit.
The bill would require recipients under the relevant formula program to allocate at least 3% of those funds to eligible safety projects, with authority for a lower percentage in urban areas under 200,000 people. No publicly available information on estimated total costs.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.