US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday that Chicago and Boston are vulnerable to dropping federal assist except native leaders swiftly take steps to enhance security on their transit methods.
In a Friday information launch, Duffy condemned what he described as the 2 cities’ “failure” to guard riders and transit staff, citing a string of violent incidents on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) — two of the nation’s largest transit methods.
Amongst them have been the assault of a 27-year CTA veteran who was punched and thrown onto the tracks, an aged lady shoved off an MBTA bus, and a case through which a person used his belt to assault passengers, as famous within the Division of Transportation’s information launch.
“President Trump cares about our nice cities and the hardworking Individuals who inhabit them,” Duffy mentioned in an announcement. “Whereas native leaders appear intent on placing the wants of criminals first, we’re not ready for the subsequent Iryna. Chicago and Boston are on discover to take actions that improve security and cut back the crime affecting their riders and transit staff – or threat federal assist. That is about standing up for American households who deserve a secure and clear transportation system.”
In formal letters to CTA Appearing President Nora Leerhsen and MBTA Basic Supervisor Phillip Eng, Duffy directed each companies to submit written studies inside 14 days detailing what steps have been taken to curb crime, cease fare evasion and enhance cleanliness.
The studies should additionally summarize funding sources for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 associated to security and safety, together with any funds from federal companies just like the Division of Homeland Safety.
Duffy additionally criticized each cities’ cashless bail insurance policies, which he mentioned permit “deranged criminals to repeatedly terrorize public house.”
Following the incident of the aged lady who was shoved off of a Massachusetts bus and violently slammed to the bottom, MBTA Basic Supervisor Phillip Eng mentioned Thursday that security is the company’s high precedence and pressured that such conduct wouldn’t be tolerated.
He additionally reminded riders they will report issues anonymously at any time by the See Say app.
“Security will at all times be on the forefront of the whole lot we do, and I’m pleased with the immediate response and investigation by the MBTA Transit Police that led to the arrest of this particular person,” Eng mentioned in an announcement. “The general public deserves a secure transportation system, and I would like them to know that this conduct won’t be tolerated anyplace on our system.”
The letters are the most recent in Duffy’s push for transit companies to curb fare evasion and enhance security. Earlier this yr, he issued related warnings to transit methods in Washington, New York, and Los Angeles, as famous within the information launch.
Final month, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally attacked on a North Carolina light-rail practice — a case that sparked nationwide outrage.
The CTA and MBTA didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
