Editor's Notebook: Closing out 2024 with safety top of mind
This year has been pivotal for the public transit industry. Now in its third year, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has funded the deployment of over 4,600 transit buses and more than 320 rail projects have been announced, according to a fact sheet released by the Biden-Harris Administration in November. Several major projects have made significant progress, from Sound Transit opening its Link 2 Line and Denver Regional Transit District breaking ground on the East Colfax Avenue bus rapid transit (BRT) to Caltrain launching its electrified service and IndyGo opening its new Purple Line BRT.
Communities are also choosing to invest locally in their transit systems. As Mass Transit reported in November, 25 out of the 26 transit ballot measures in the 2024 general election were approved by voters, injecting more than $25 billion in funding through bonds and taxes. These funds will help increase frequency, expand service, establish new routes and improvements to enhance the passenger experience.
However, this has also been a pivotal year in high profile security events. There has been substantial coverage in local media regarding incidents between passengers, passengers and operators and passengers and other frontline workers. While communities see the value of funding transit service expansions, they are also calling on agencies to invest in improving safety and security. In our 2024 Safety & Security Report, we dive into the significant increase of assaults against transit workers, focusing on specific actions agencies have taken to mitigate these risks.
Being transit-dependent in a large urban area, I’ve experienced these concerns firsthand. I’ve witnessed my share of confrontations, violations of codes of conduct and crime; yet I continue to choose transit. Why? Because I’ve seen how agencies are responding. I’ve seen increased security personnel, I’ve interacted with transit ambassadors, I’ve experienced refreshed stations and facilities, and I’ve heard what agencies are saying: that they are working to fix it. But a large part of this is because not only am I a regular rider, I’m also deeply involved with the industry. I’m well-versed in agencies’ communications campaigns regarding boosting safety and security.
The question is whether this messaging and these approaches resonate with your external stakeholders who don’t know transit inside and out. Are your choice riders returning? Do your elected officials understand transit’s immense value? How are your regular riders experiencing your system? As many agencies approach budget deficits, now is the time to double down not just on implementing safety efforts, but on how you’re communicating these strategies to ensure continued ridership growth and investment in transit.
Megan Perrero | Editor in Chief
Megan Perrero is a national award-winning B2B journalist and lover of all things transit. Currently, she is the Editor in Chief of Mass Transit magazine, where she develops and leads a multi-channel editorial strategy while reporting on the North American public transit industry.
Prior to her position with Mass Transit, Perrero was the senior communications and external relations specialist for the Shared-Use Mobility Center, where she was responsible for helping develop internal/external communications, plan the National Shared Mobility Summit and manage brand strategy and marketing campaigns.
Perrero serves as the board secretary for Latinos In Transit and is a member of the American Public Transportation Association Marketing and Communications Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism with a concentration in magazine writing and a minor in public relations from Columbia College Chicago.
