Dive Brief:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asked the leaders of Amtrak and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority along with Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to focus on reducing crime and fare evasion on transportation systems serving the district.
- Duffy sent separate letters March 6 to Bowser and Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner directing specific actions and demanding certain information within 30 days, and a letter to WMATA CEO Randy Clarke with a reply date of March 19.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation said in a press release that it is “reinforcing its oversight role in safeguarding public transportation systems.”
Dive Insight:
Although violent crime in the district declined 35% from 2023 to 2024, reported crime on the Washington Metro rail system jumped sharply from 2022 to 2023. Fare evasion accounted for much of the increase in crime, according to The Washington Post, but rape, robbery and homicide doubled in that period.
“Our Nation’s Capital should be a beacon of safety and cleanliness for all who work, live and visit,” Duffy said in a statement. “This includes reducing crime and fare evasion on the D.C. metro system and bus system to ensure people using public transit feel safe.”
Specific actions the U.S. DOT required of each of the three major transportation providers in the district were outlined in the letters.
- Amtrak: Directed the passenger railroad to “take all necessary steps” to reduce and prevent crime at Washington Union Station and provide an updated crime prevention plan to the U.S. DOT. The letter also directs Amtrak to serve all users of the station, including passenger rail, public transit, intercity buses, ride-share users and retail patrons.
- WMATA: Requested information about the agency’s funding to improve security in fiscal year 2025 and 2026 budgets along with any actions and plans to reduce crime and fare evasion.
- District Department of Transportation: Asked for a report on areas where roadways are not in compliance with federal standards for traffic control devices such as signs, signals and pavement marking, and plans that may need to be reviewed in light of these issues.
Duffy also expressed concern about murals and other artwork within the DDOT system that he said could distract people. “These practices provide no demonstrated safety or operational purpose, adversely impact the effectiveness of other traffic control devices, and were installed intentionally to draw attention to their message rather than to promote the safety and mobility of road users and efficient use of the roadway in accordance with statute and regulation,” the letter to Mayor Bowser stated.
