Safe Transit for All Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
- Committees
- Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (primary)
- Last action
- May 7, 2026
Bottom line
The Safe Transit for All Act of 2026 requires larger public transit agencies to systematically collect, analyze, and report data on passenger harassment to inform safety improvements.
What it actually does
This bill mandates that public transit agencies receiving federal assistance under section 5307 and serving urbanized areas with populations of 200,000 or more establish programs to collect data on street harassment targeted at passengers. These programs must include accessible digital and in-person reporting mechanisms, collect demographic and incident-specific information, conduct outreach in multiple languages, publish anonymized data, and establish response protocols. The collected data must also be submitted to the National Transit Database.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill is crucial for understanding the true scope and nature of harassment on public transit, which is often underreported. By collecting comprehensive, disaggregated data, agencies can develop more effective, data-driven strategies to enhance passenger safety, improve ridership, and ensure equitable access to public transportation for all demographic groups, particularly those disproportionately affected by harassment.
Opponents contend
Critics might contend that while the goal is laudable, this bill could impose significant administrative and financial burdens on transit agencies, potentially diverting resources from direct safety measures or service enhancements. Concerns could also be raised about the practical challenges of implementing robust, multi-language reporting systems and ensuring data privacy while maintaining transparency.
The bill is concise and clearly written, making it accessible for a quick and thorough understanding of its provisions.
Section 2(a) of the bill, amending 49 U.S.C. 5329(d)
Mandating Street Harassment Data Collection Programs
This provision requires public transportation agencies that receive federal assistance under section 5307 and operate in urbanized areas with populations of 200,000 or more to establish a program for collecting data on street harassment targeting passengers. The program must include accessible digital and in-person reporting mechanisms, collect detailed information on incident type, location, time, and demographics of affected passengers, and publish anonymized data publicly. It also mandates outreach in multiple languages and protocols for responding to reports.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue that this data is crucial for understanding the scope of the problem, developing targeted interventions, and making transit safer and more equitable for all passengers, especially vulnerable groups who may experience disproportionate harassment.
Critics contend
Critics might argue that this imposes an unfunded mandate or significant administrative burden on transit agencies, potentially diverting resources from direct safety measures or service improvements. Concerns about data privacy or the potential for misinterpretation of data could also be raised.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the need for comprehensive data on harassment to inform policy and safety improvements against the administrative and financial costs for transit agencies to implement new collection and reporting systems.
Section 2(a)(2) of the bill, adding 49 U.S.C. 5329(d)(6)
Defining 'Street Harassment'
This section defines 'street harassment' as any word, gesture, or other action directed at an individual in a public place, without their consent, because of an actual or perceived personal characteristic (including those protected under Title VI or VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), where the individual experiences it as intimidating or threatening to their safety.
Section 2(b) of the bill, amending 49 U.S.C. 5335(c)
Inclusion of Harassment Data in National Transit Database
This provision amends the requirements for the National Transit Database to include any data on street harassment of passengers collected by transit agencies pursuant to the new program established under section 5329(d). This ensures that the collected local data is aggregated and made available at a national level.