A preliminary analysis of actions taken in response to a general directive by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) shows hundreds of transit agencies are taking steps to address safety for their workforces, but the industry still has work to do to reduce the known risks associated with the potential for assaults on transit workers. 

Transit Workforce Safety

According to data from the National Transit Database, assaults on transit workers increased more than 232% between 2014 and 2024. 

In response to this trend, FTA issued a general directive that required more than 700 transit agencies to complete a safety risk assessment and provide information on how they are working to prevent assaults. 

FTA’s preliminary analysis of agency responses shows more than two-thirds of transit agencies determined that strategies are necessary to reduce the risk related to assaults on transit workers, and these agencies are working to roll out a variety of mitigation measures. 

"The increase in assaults against transit workers over the past decade is simply unacceptable,” said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. “Transit workers are the backbone of critical services across the country, and they should not have to fear attacks and harassment at work. Today’s initial findings are an important step in helping the industry reduce the risk to transit workers by learning from successful strategies to keep their workforces safe and could support the development of federal minimum safety standards.”

FTA’s Analysis

FTA’s analysis summarizes current safety strategies used by transit agencies and how they measure their effectiveness in reducing assaults on transit workers, including: 

• Audio/video surveillance, most widely reported in transit agency responses as effective for reducing assaults on transit workers.

• Automatic vehicle location technology. 

• De-escalation training for transit workers. 

• Protective barriers for bus and train operators. 

The preliminary analysis will serve as a tool for transit agencies to exchange strategies with peers and adopt similar tactics as they continue efforts to reduce the risk of assaults.