APTA Applauds Introduction of Safe Transit Accountability Act to Strengthen Federal Safety Compliance

APTA strongly supports H.R.___, the Safe Transit Accountability Act, introduced by Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA). The legislation addresses a critical gap in federal transit safety regulations by establishing clear executive authority within public transit agencies for rider and operator safety.

The bill amends Title 49 of the U.S. Code to resolve ambiguities in current FTA safety regulations that have created operational challenges for public transit agencies attempting to comply with federally mandated Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan requirements.

Under current FTA regulations, large public transit agencies receiving federal funding must establish safety committees as part of their federally required safety management systems. However, existing law provides no mechanism for resolving disputes within these committees, potentially creating compliance challenges and delaying implementation of federally mandated safety improvements.

“This legislation addresses a real operational challenge that public transit agencies face when implementing federal safety requirements,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “When safety committees reach impasses on risk mitigation strategies, public transit agencies need clear statutory authority to ensure compliance with federal safety mandates. The Safe Transit Accountability Act provides that authority while preserving the collaborative framework Congress intended.”

As defined in the bill, the “Accountable Executive” will have authority over a public transit agency’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan and Transit Asset Management Plan, including the human and capital resources necessary to implement them. By assigning dispute resolution and final decision-making authority to this executive, the bill enhances coordination; cuts through bureaucratic gridlock; and ensures timely, evidence-based responses to emerging safety issues.

“Clear lines of accountability and empowered leadership are essential to maintaining public trust in our nation’s public transit systems,” said Skoutelas. “This legislation strikes the right balance by preserving collaborative safety committee processes while ensuring decisions can be made in the public interest when consensus cannot be reached.”

Public transit agencies receive approximately $20.9 billion annually in federal funding through FTA programs, with safety compliance serving as a condition of continued federal support. The Safe Transit Accountability Act strengthens public transit agencies’ ability to meet federal safety requirements by providing statutory clarity on decision-making authority.

APTA urges Congress to act swiftly on this important legislation to provide public transit agencies with the authority they need to maintain the highest safety standards for the millions of Americans who depend on public transportation every day.