RELEASE: Friedman Announces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Safety and Affordability on Public Transit
Creates investments to hire additional officers and improve safety infrastructure on mass transit
Above: Friedman announcing the bipartisan Safe and Affordable Transit Act at Burbank Airport Metrolink station.
BURBANK, CA — Today, November 25, 2025, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) announced the Safe and Affordable Transit Act, new bipartisan legislation to improve safety and restore affordability on America’s public transportation systems.
A recording of the announcement can be found here.
The bipartisan Safe and Affordable Transit Act is co-led by Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY). It supports local transit agencies by creating a new federal grant program to hire additional police officers and build key safety infrastructure upgrades. The bill aims to reduce crime on public transit, lower costs for local agencies, and increase rider confidence.
“Every Angeleno and every American deserves access to safe and affordable transit — and that’s exactly what my new, bipartisan legislation is all about,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “The Safe and Affordable Transit Act will restore confidence and help make sure public transportation is reliable, affordable, and safe for every family, every day.”
“I join Representative Laura Friedman in introducing the Safe and Affordable Transit Act of 2025. In a city of nearly 9 million people, having safe and reliable public transportation keeps our city moving, and our bipartisan bill would establish a new federal grant program dedicated to transit safety and infrastructure upgrades that promote passenger and operator safety. I look forward to continuing to deliver safe, reliable, and more accessible transit options for Staten Island, Brooklyn, and across our nation,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11).
“Every day, at least 42 transit workers are assaulted on U.S. transit systems. In 2024, there were more than 11,000 incidents of bus operators or other transit workers being attacked. By investing in transit security measures, including increased law enforcement, we are better protecting our riders, communities, and transit workers. Operator safety is about public safety. This piece of legislation is a proactive step toward building systems where safety and service go hand in hand,” said Amalgamated Transit Union International President John Costa.
"Safety on public transit is essential. In an era where violent assaults against America’s transit workers has become an everyday occurrence, the TWU strongly backs this bipartisan bill which allows transit agencies to hire additional police and fund infrastructure improvements that increase safety for riders and workers,” said Transit Workers Union International President John Samuelsen. "The physical presence of law enforcement on trains, buses, and stations will reduce crime and the scourge of assaults on transit workers nationwide, and Congress should make it a priority to fund such efforts as part of a larger package of federal support for transit operations.”
“As we continue to make our system safer, I applaud Rep. Friedman for her leadership with the bipartisan Safe and Affordable Transit Act, which could help us accelerate the implementation of the safety and security initiatives we’re rolling out all over LA County,” said Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer. “As we look forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, these type of investments will ensure Metro is safe, secure, and ready to make America proud,” said LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins.
“The Metro Department of Public Safety will need to hire more than 600 sworn officers over the next 4 years, so we’re really thankful for the opportunity of the Safe and Affordable Transit Act,” said Bill Scott, Chief of Police and Emergency Management at the Metro Department of Public Safety (DPS). “We’re revolutionizing the way safety is delivered on transit by building a multilayered public safety ecosystem on Metro, and we thank Rep. Friedman for her leadership in helping us make Metro safer for everyone,” said LA Metro Chief of Police & Emergency Management Bill Scott.
“I commend Congresswoman Friedman for introducing this important legislation," said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. "As a Metro and Metrolink board member, keeping our riders and employees safe is my top priority. I’ve championed security enhancements like reinforced fare gates and our tap-to-exit pilot—I believe these are important investments. Over the past year and a half, these and other improvements have already delivered meaningful safety benefits. Approval of this bill would provide the critical funding we need to expand and scale these types of improvements across our transit system. Our riders deserve a system where safety is the standard, not the exception.”
As millions of Americans travel during Thanksgiving week, including through the Burbank Airport Metrolink Station where the announcement was held, Friedman emphasized the urgent need to invest in safer, more accessible systems.
THE BIPARTISAN SAFE AND AFFORDABLE TRANSIT ACT:
- Creates a competitive federal grant program to:
- Hire additional officers for public transit stations and vehicles.
- Fund physical upgrades that protect riders and operators — including surveillance, operator shields, and visibility improvements.
- Stops the burden of these investments from falling on local taxpayers.
- Is endorsed by the Amalgamated Transit Union and the Transit Workers Union.
On the Washington, D.C Metro, serious crime dropped by 43% in one year after increasing visible officer presence.
PART OF FRIEDMAN’S LARGER AFFORDABILITY STRATEGY:
Friedman emphasized that this bill is just one piece of a broader effort in Congress to make life more affordable and connected for working families. She is also:
- Leading the bipartisan Cut Red Tape for Housing Act, which streamlines infill housing development by removing outdated federal barriers.
- Leading the bipartisan Don’t Penalize Victims Act which ensures that donations like those from GoFundMe don’t make wildfire victims ineligible for FEMA benefits.
- Supporting the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, which will create additional investments to help transit agencies restore service and improve on-time performance.
Friedman was joined today by Assemblyman Nick Schultz, Burbank Mayor Nikki Perez, Metrolink Chief Safety, Security, and Compliance Officer Hilary Konczal, LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, LA Metro Chief of Police & Emergency Management Bill Scott, LAPD Deputy Chief and Commanding Officer of LAPD's Transit Service Bureau Donald Graham, and a representative for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
Below: Friedman and supporters announcing the bipartisan Safe and Affordable Transit Act at Burbank Airport Metrolink station/
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