Congressman Burgess Owens, who represents Utah’s 4th district in the U.S. Congress, has introduced the Safe Transit Accountability Act. The bill aims to reduce bureaucratic barriers, improve public transit safety, and help communities comply with federal safety standards without disrupting service for riders. Senator Mike Lee is sponsoring a companion bill in the Senate, and Representative Lloyd Smucker is co-leading the effort in the House.
“The Safe Transit Accountability Act restores common sense by removing bureaucratic roadblocks and putting safety decisions back in the hands of those responsible for running our transit systems,” said Rep. Owens. “I’m proud to lead this bill with Congressman Smucker in the House and Senator Lee in the Senate to empower agencies like the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Transit Authority to protect riders and ensure Utah’s growing communities have the safe, reliable service they deserve.”
Senator Mike Lee commented on current regulations: “American families deserve to have safe, reliable public transit. Under President Biden, labor unions were given a veto over public transit agency safety plans, allowing them to stall projects and interfere with federal funding for safe transit. Just last year, such obstruction threatened resources for the Utah Transit Authority. The Safe Transit Accountability Act ensures that these disputes can be resolved by the executive authority responsible for rider and operator safety.”
Carlos Braceras, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), expressed support for the legislation: “A strong safety plan is essential—not just for compliance, but to protect riders and operators every day. This legislation brings needed clarity to the process and helps ensure transit agencies can act quickly and responsibly. We appreciate Representative Owens’ leadership and are proud to support this commonsense legislation.”
Carlton Christensen, Chair of the UTA Board of Trustees, also voiced support: “Safety is—and always will be—the Utah Transit Authority’s top priority. Every day, thousands of Utahns rely on our buses, trains, and paratransit services to connect them to work, school, family, and the opportunities that make our communities thrive. The Safe Transit Accountability Act will give UTA, and transit agencies across the nation, stronger tools to protect both our riders and our frontline employees,” he said. “We are deeply grateful to Congressman Burgess Owens for his leadership in co-authoring this important legislation and for his commitment to ensuring that public transportation in Utah remains safe and reliable for all.”
Currently, Federal Transit Administration rules require public transit agencies receiving federal funds to set up Safety Committees for planning and compliance purposes. However, there is no clear process for resolving disagreements within these committees, which can delay safety improvements. The new act seeks to address this issue by providing agencies with a direct way to resolve disputes so that safety standards are met promptly.
The American Public Transportation Association has endorsed the Safe Transit Accountability Act.
Burgess Owens has served as a member of Congress representing Utah’s 4th District since 2021 after replacing Ben McAdams. He was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1951 and now lives in Salt Lake City.
