Reps. Smucker, Owens introduce bill to clarify public transit safety regs

U.S. Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) and Burgess Owens (R-Utah) last week introduced the Safe Transit Accountability Act (H.R. 4900), which the lawmakers say would strengthen public transit safety and ensure public transit agencies efficiently comply with federal public safety standards.

The bill would clarify requirements under public transit agency safety plans required by the Federal Transit Administration, according to the American Public Transportation Association, which has endorsed the legislation.

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, APTA officials said in a press release.

“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," said APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas.

The bill would also guarantee that "bureaucratic gridlock" does not jeopardize federal grant disbursements, the lawmakers said in a separate press release.