Sponsors (5)
The bill increases federal support and predictable funding to boost transit safety and extend operating aid to smaller systems, at the tradeoff of expanding policing-related responses that risk civil‑liberties harms, strained community relations, and potential diversion of funds from service improvements or other budget priorities.
Urban transit riders and transit workers will see increased safety through federal support for additional transit police, contracted local officers, operator shields, monitoring, and station/infrastructure upgrades.
Smaller and non‑standard urban transit systems will become eligible for operating grants regardless of the 5307 population rule, expanding federal support to more local systems.
Local transit agencies and communities will receive predictable federal funding — $50 million per year for FY2026–2030 — to support safety measures and operating activities.
Riders — particularly marginalized and racial/ethnic minority communities — could face increased policing, higher policing presence/costs, civil‑liberties risks, and harsher enforcement without clear safeguards.
Urban riders and low-income individuals may lose service benefits if funds are prioritized for policing and physical barriers instead of service improvements like more routes or higher frequency.
Taxpayers could face added federal spending pressure from the $50M/year authorization, potentially forcing tradeoffs or cuts in other programs if appropriated.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes operating grants for urban transit safety (hiring transit police, contracting local police, and infrastructure upgrades) and funds a TRB study; $50M/year authorized for FY2026–2030.
Official title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for grants to certain urbanized areas for operating costs relating to crime prevention and security, and for other purposes.
Introduced November 25, 2025 by Laura Friedman · Last progress November 25, 2025
Authorizes a new federal operating grant program to help transit agencies in urbanized areas pay for safety and security activities, including hiring transit police, contracting with local police, and making physical infrastructure safety upgrades. Provides $50 million per year for FY2026–2030 and requires an independent study, via the Transportation Research Board in consultation with frontline transit worker labor organizations, to report best practices and outcomes of transit crime-prevention activities to Congress.