MARTA safety investigation has been opened by federal officials after recent violent incidents on MARTA property and broader concerns about security conditions across the system.

MARTA safety investigation puts security under review
Photo: MARTA

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation⁠, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy instructed the Federal Transit Administration to review MARTA’s security spending, safety procedures, and possible risks affecting passengers and employees. As part of that review, MARTA has 15 days to provide records on crime prevention, fare evasion enforcement, and funding for security-related measures.

Also, the request covers both operational measures and the funding MARTA has set aside for passenger and worker security.

The federal action follows two stabbing incidents on MARTA property within one week. On May 30, a 66-year-old woman was fatally stabbed while travelling on a MARTA train. On May 24, a 40-year-old man was stabbed several times after an altercation at a MARTA station.

MARTA safety investigation follows security concerns

Secretary Duffy said MARTA’s rate of personal security events is close to double the national average. These events include assaults and robberies involving riders and employees. In addition, federal officials said the issue is more pronounced on MARTA rail lines. There, the rate is three-and-a-half times higher than the national average.

The FTA review is intended to establish whether systemic conditions on the Atlanta transit network are placing the public or transit workers at risk.

FTA requests records on funding and enforcement

MARTA must submit detailed action plans and historical trend data related to crime and fare evasion enforcement. The agency must also provide a full account of Fiscal Year 2026 budgeted funding and Fiscal Year 2027 planned funding for passenger and worker security. That account must include comparisons to earlier spending.

The requested funding information must cover security expenditures and budgeted funds. These must satisfy the Federal transit program security capital projects set-aside requirement for Urbanized Area Formula Grants under 49 U.S.C. § 5307(c)(1)(J)(i). It must also include safety expenditures and budgeted funds tied to the Federal transit program safety set-aside requirement under 49 U.S.C. § 5329(d)(4)(B).

Separately, MARTA must report all safety-directed funds received from other federal entities, including the Department of Homeland Security.

Worker safety measures face federal assessment

FTA staff will examine MARTA’s compliance with 49 CFR Part 673. That regulation governs the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans program. At the same time, staff will review whether MARTA’s response to earlier FTA directives on rider and worker safety has been sufficient.

The FTA will also carry out its own assessment of MARTA’s Safety Risk Reduction Program. That review will focus on assaults against transit workers. Still, it will also evaluate the effectiveness of MARTA’s mitigations under General Directive 24-1⁠, Required Actions Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers, which the FTA issued on September 25, 2024.