U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has directed the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to investigate the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). The review will examine the agency’s security spending, safety protocols, and potential risks to riders and employees.

The investigation follows two stabbing incidents on MARTA property within a week. On May 30, a 66-year-old woman was fatally stabbed while riding a MARTA train. On May 24, a 40-year-old man was stabbed multiple times following an altercation at a MARTA station.

Issues at MARTA, the FTA’s Pending Investigation

According to Secretary Duffy, MARTA's rate of personal security events, such as assaults and robberies, for MARTA employees and riders is nearly twice the national average. Federal officials added that this trend is particularly concerning on MARTA’s rail lines, where the rate is three-and-a-half times higher than the national average.

The FTA investigation will determine if systemic conditions exist that endanger the public or transit workforce on the Atlanta system.

FTA is providing MARTA 15 days to submit the following information:

• Crime & Fare Evasion Mitigation: Detailed action plans and historical data trends regarding crime and fare evasion enforcement.
• Security & Safety Funding: A full breakdown of Fiscal Year 2026 budgeted and Fiscal Year 2027 planned funding earmarked for passenger and worker security, compared against prior-year spending. This must include:

1. Security: Expenditures and budgeted funds that meet the Federal transit program security capital projects set-aside requirement for Urbanized Area Formula Grants (49 U.S.C. § 5307(c)(1)(J)(i)).
2. Safety: Expenditures and budgeted funds that meet the Federal transit program safety set-aside requirement under 49 U.S.C. § 5329(d)(4)(B).
3. Non-FTA Federal Funds: All safety-directed funding received from other federal entities, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

As part of their investigation, FTA staff will assess:

• MARTA’s compliance with 49 CFR Part 673 (Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans program).
• The sufficiency of the agency’s response to prior FTA directives regarding transit rider and worker safety.

Concurrently, FTA will independently conduct an official assessment of MARTA’s Safety Risk Reduction Program, specifically targeting assaults on transit workers, as well as an evaluation of the effectiveness of mitigations implemented by MARTA in response to General Directive 24-1 (Required Actions Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers), issued by FTA on September 25, 2024.