Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Transportation opened applications on June 1 for monetary awards recognizing transportation efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking.
- The program’s cash awards, up to $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000, go to individuals or entities for creating the most impactful and innovative counter-trafficking initiatives or technologies.
- The awards are part of DOT’s Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking program, focused on industry leadership, training and education, policy development, public awareness and information sharing and analysis.
Dive Insight:
Surface transportation presents fewer barriers to human trafficking than flying, Commuter Rail Coalition CEO KellyAnne Gallagher told Smart Cities Dive in February. Unlike airline travel, boarding a train or bus requires little more than a ticket. “There aren’t checkpoints along the way where you’re going to be scrutinized,” she said.
The DOT awards provide transportation stakeholders with an opportunity to develop counter-trafficking tools, initiatives, campaigns and technologies, the Federal Transit Administration said in an email. State, local and tribal government organizations may apply, as well as individuals, nongovernmental organizations, transportation industry associations and research institutions.
The program will accept applications through June 22.
New Jersey Transit took home the top award last year for an effort in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to train 12,000 employees, begin a public awareness campaign and provide direct support to potentially trafficked individuals. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Department of Transportation received the second-place award for a program to develop training, toolkits, survivor support resources and an awareness campaign. The nonprofit 3Strands Global Foundation took third place for its efforts to train and raise awareness about human trafficking among 7,000 railway professionals in California.
The commuter rail and intercity bus industries are also working to counter human trafficking.
The Chicago region’s commuter railroad, Metra, uses training videos and signage on trains and at stations. The railroad has two officers assigned to human trafficking duties, but it warns employees and passengers not to intervene directly, Metra CEO James Derwinski told Smart Cities Dive in February. He has also offered the training materials to other transit agencies.
The nonprofit American Bus Association Foundation, which supports the intercity bus industry, launched a scholarship program this year for victims of human trafficking. The $5,000 scholarship, which will be awarded to one individual this year, may be used for education, training, housing, food, daycare or treatment recovery and rehabilitation.
