November 25, 2025
Ms. Friedman (for herself and Ms. Malliotakis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
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.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Safe and Affordable Transit Act
.
Sec. 2. Operating grants for crime prevention and security
(a) Crime prevention and security
Section 5321 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking The Secretary
and inserting (a) In general.—The Secretary
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(b) Operating grants for urbanized areas
(1) In general
The Secretary may make grants for operating activities for public transportation systems to any entity eligible to receive funds under section 5307, notwithstanding the population requirement under section (a)(1)(D) of such section.
(2) Eligible activities
Funds made available under this subsection may be used for the following:
(A)
Hiring additional officers to police on public transportation and transit stations, including the immediate vicinity of stations.
(B)
Contracting with local police departments to increase officer presence on public transportation and transit stations.
(C)
Physical infrastructure upgrades that promote public transportation passenger and operator safety (including monitoring devices, operator shields, and other infrastructure changes).
(3) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this subsection.
(b) Study required
The Secretary of Transportation shall enter into an agreement with Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, to conduct and submit to Congress, in consultation with labor organizations representing frontline transit workers, a study on crime prevention by transit agencies that includes—
(1)
what such agencies are doing to prevent crime;
(2)
what tactics have been successful in deterring crime;
(3)
what tactics have been unsuccessful in deterring crime; and
(4)
best practices for transit agencies to reduce crime within public transportation systems.