Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act

Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act

Bill Summary

The Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives. The purpose of the bill is to amend the United States Code to require the development of public transportation operations safety risk reduction programs.

The bill recognizes the importance of public transportation workers and their contribution to the safe and efficient movement of people. It acknowledges that assaults on public transportation workers are a growing problem and presents a safety risk not only to workers but also to passengers, motorists, and pedestrians.

The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to address the protection of public transportation operators from the risk of assault. It also mandates the development of risk reduction programs for bus operators and rail workers.

Specifically, the bill requires recipients operating fixed route bus services to develop and implement risk reduction programs that aim to improve safety by reducing accidents, injuries, assaults, and fatalities. These programs must include measures such as the deployment of driver assistance technologies, conflict de-escalation training for bus operators, and modifications to bus operator workstations.

Similarly, recipients operating rail fixed guideway public transportation systems must develop and implement risk reduction programs for assaults on rail workers. These programs must include an implementation plan for rail worker assault mitigation.

The bill also authorizes appropriations of $25,000,000 annually from 2019 to 2023 to support the implementation of the risk reduction programs.

Additionally, recipients are required to report any information on assaults on transit workers to the Secretary, and this data will be included in the National Transit Database.

Rep. Antonio Delgado

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