In a significant development for transit workers across the nation, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced its first-ever general directive aimed at addressing the alarming rise in assaults against transit operators. This directive, formally known as General Directive 24-1, requires more than 700 transit agencies to implement measures to enhance the safety of frontline workers.
Acting FTA Administrator Veronica Vanterpool highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “No American should go to work and worry they will not return home safely. That is particularly true for the transit workers who were valuable frontline workers in our nation’s time of need.” She emphasized that the directive is just one step toward improving safety for transit professionals who face increasing risks on the job.
Jared Cassity, Alternate National Legislative Director for the SMART-TD Transit Union, expressed enthusiasm for the new directive. “FTA has just issued a first-ever general directive, and, rightfully, is focused on the number one issue of operator assault. We have actively lobbied for the FTA to gain more enforcement authority — something they have historically lacked. We recognize Administrator Vanterpool for taking the bull by the horns and doing a fantastic job in this vital area.”
SMART-TD, led by our Bus Department and the Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee, has been in ongoing communication with FTA throughout the multi-year process leading to this announcement. The union has expressed gratitude for the unprecedented level of outreach from FTA during this critical initiative.
“The collaborative efforts between SMART-TD and FTA have been invaluable,” SMART-TD Bus Department Vice President Alvy Hughes noted. “We share their vision of stopping the epidemic of transit assault, and we are committed to working alongside the FTA, Administrator Vanterpool, and the Biden-Harris administration to protect our transit professionals.
“This union has given detailed reports of what needs to happen to protect our transit members to FTA. Administrator Vanderpool met with us this summer to discuss how to make this happen. FTA’s Chief Safety Officer, Joe DeLorenzo, came to SMART-TD’s National Training Seminar to work with our BTAPS committee and local officers from our bus and transit locals across the country,” he said. “When they reached out to us, they weren’t explaining to us what ‘their’ plan was. They wanted our first-hand experiences, information, and insight to help them mold ‘our combined’ plan. I’ve never seen this kind of responsiveness from an administration. So far, the results reflect their effort. VP James Sandoval and I are pleased they have decided the time for further studies is over and that they are putting the plan into action to protect our people.”
General Directive 24-1 mandates that transit agencies conduct risk assessments, identify strategies for mitigating risks and ensure the involvement of joint labor-management Safety Committees in these efforts. This proactive approach comes in response to a troubling 120 percent increase in reported assaults against transit workers from 2013 to 2021.