U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) on Tuesday sponsored legislation that aims to bolster public transit safety and ensure public transit agencies comply with federal public safety standards.
“Thousands of individuals in Lancaster and York Counties [Pa.] use public transportation each day — to commute to work, attend school, or simply get around town,” Rep. Smucker said, noting that the bill would take “important steps to address current risks and improve transit system operations.”
“I’m committed to ensuring every American can count on these systems to prioritize their safety,” he added.
The congressman proposed the Safe Transit Accountability Act, H.R. 4900, alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) to clarify requirements under Public Transit Agency Safety Plans to ensure that the ability to resolve disputes on a transit agency’s safety committee aligns with the executive authority ultimately responsible for rider and operator safety.
This change also would guarantee that bureaucratic gridlock does not jeopardize federal grant disbursements, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Smucker’s staff.
Currently, Federal Transit Administration regulations require public transit agencies receiving federal funding to establish safety committees, but the law does not provide a clear mechanism for resolving disputes within the committees.
If enacted, H.R. 4900 would address the current standard by helping to resolve such compliance challenges and facilitating implementation of agency safety standards, the summary says.
The bill is endorsed by the American Public Transportation Association and has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.