Safety at Work
Oakland, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislation to protect transit workers and riders was introduced by U.S. Rep Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., this past week.
Simon, the first congenitally blind Congressmember, introduced H.R. 6069, the Rapid Intervention and Deterrence for Enhanced Rider (RIDER Safety) Act into the U.S. house of Representatives on Jan. 30. Co-led by U.S. Reps. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), and John Garamendi (D-Calif.), the legislation would support the establishment of a transit ambassador or transit support specialist programs at public transit agencies across the country.
The legislation would expand Simon’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Transit Ambassador Program in the San Francisco area. that received national attention as an “innovation in public safety” for establishing a program to create transit ambassadors to address and hopefully prevent unsafe situations for workers and riders. If passed, the legislation would allow public transit agencies to transit ambassadors trained in de-escalation, crisis response, and rider education and engagement. Simon said the ambassadors would act as “a visible, non-enforcement presence to deter low-level incidents and reduce conflict,” and that the ambassadors could enhance public safety.
“We have seen the success of the transit ambassador programs here in the East Bay, and I am dedicated to bringing this proven public safety model to the rest of the country,” Simon said. “These are strong local jobs for people who want to support public safety on transit and serve as a resource to individuals who may be in crisis or in need of services. Strengthening safety on transit benefits us all and helps ensure our public transportation systems remain places of opportunity, dignity, and trust.”
Transit workers across the country have seen an increase in attacks since the COVID-190 pandemic. According to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) between 2014 and 2024, operator assaults in transit agencies saw a 232 percent increase. In early 2025, 68 percent of some 700 transit agencies reported a need to implement new safety measures to protect workers.
The legislation is supported by the Transportation Workers Union in California which has seen the program’s success in California.
“Forty-two workers per day are assaulted nationwide, that’s over 11,000 workers nationwide. So, Congresswoman Simon’s legislation goes towards the riders and the workers,” Chris Finn, President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 in Oakland, Cal, said. “We greatly appreciate your legislation and thinking of the workers and the riders. ATU International is proud to endorse and support this legislation.
The RIDER Safety Act is endorsed by the BART, LA Metro, AC-Transit, SF-MTA, Amalgamated Transit Union, Transport Workers Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL-CIO (Transportation Trades Department), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Transportation Division, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and Transportation Communications International Union. Union officials said the bill would protect transit workers who are under assault across the country.
Representatives with BART said the program has been effective in lowering crime rates.
“At BART we are listening to our riders, and they have been loud and clear that we need to be safe, clean, and reliable,” BART Board President Melissa Hernandez said. “Our overall crime rate dropped by 41% compared with the previous year. Traditional officers and unarmed staff are working together to provide a visible safety presence that is working to deter unwanted behavior.”
That effectiveness will extend to workers, union officials said.
“No one should have to face violence, intimidation, or disorder simply to get to work or to do their job. This legislation takes a smart, practical approach to improving safety on public transit, one that reflects the realities of transit workers every day,” Donald Roach, the Alternate National Safety and Legislative Director of SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD), said. “By allowing federal safety transit dollars to fund these transit support specialists – this bill emphasizes prevention, visibility, and early intervention.”
The bill is also co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Juan Vargas (D-Cal.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), and Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.).
“This bill is critical to ensure the safety of every passenger who relies on public transportation across the country,” Pou said in a statement. “The RIDER Safety Act builds on successful transit models already implemented in communities, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)… By providing transit stations with medically-trained, unarmed personnel, we can strengthen safety standards, reduce fare evasion, and give riders a greater peace of mind when getting from one place to the next.”
