WASHINGTON — Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) introduced the Safe Transit Accountability Act, legislation to cut bureaucratic red tape, strengthen public transit safety, and ensure communities can efficiently comply with federal safety standards without jeopardizing service for riders. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is leading the companion bill in the Senate, while Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) joins Owens as co-lead in the House.
“The Safe Transit Accountability Act restores common sense by removing bureaucratic roadblocks and putting safety decisions back in the hands of those responsible for running our transit systems,” said Rep. Owens. “I’m proud to lead this bill with Congressman Smucker in the House and Senator Lee in the Senate to empower agencies like the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Transit Authority to protect riders and ensure Utah’s growing communities have the safe, reliable service they deserve.”
“American families deserve to have safe, reliable public transit,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Under President Biden, labor unions were given a veto over public transit agency safety plans, allowing them to stall projects and interfere with federal funding for safe transit. Just last year, such obstruction threatened resources for the Utah Transit Authority. The Safe Transit Accountability Act ensures that these disputes can be resolved by the executive authority responsible for rider and operator safety.”
“A strong safety plan is essential—not just for compliance, but to protect riders and operators every day,” said UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras. “This legislation brings needed clarity to the process and helps ensure transit agencies can act quickly and responsibly. We appreciate Representative Owens’ leadership and are proud to support this commonsense legislation.”
“Safety is—and always will be—the Utah Transit Authority’s top priority. Every day, thousands of Utahns rely on our buses, trains, and paratransit services to connect them to work, school, family, and the opportunities that make our communities thrive. The Safe Transit Accountability Act will give UTA, and transit agencies across the nation, stronger tools to protect both our riders and our frontline employees,” said Carlton Christensen, Chair of the UTA Board of Trustees. “We are deeply grateful to Congressman Burgess Owens for his leadership in co-authoring this important legislation and for his commitment to ensuring that public transportation in Utah remains safe and reliable for all.”
Background:
Under current Federal Transit Administration rules, public transit agencies receiving federal funding must establish Safety Committees to guide safety planning and compliance. However, there is no clear process for resolving disputes within these committees, creating compliance challenges and delaying safety improvements. The Safe Transit Accountability Act closes that gap, giving agencies a direct path to resolution and ensuring safety standards are met on time.
The Safe Transit Accountability Act is endorsed by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
The full text of the legislation is available here.
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