How Transit Agencies Are Reinventing Safety Amid Rising Threats and Tight Budgets

Transit systems around the world are navigating a complex security landscape.  With increased violent incidents and budget constraints, providing riders with a safe and enjoyable commuter experience remains challenging. Safety, however, continues to be a top priority and transit systems remain dedicated to helping protect the public.

These challenges were confirmed by data from transit system respondents in the recently released 2025 World Security Report, which surveyed security leaders and investors from around the world. The data shows that U.S. public transit system respondents noted several strategic areas of concern and areas for improvement in their industry:

• 50% cite cost reduction and operational efficiency as a top priority
•  44% note compliance and regulatory requirements continue to be a focus
• 44% point to physical security upgrades such as barriers, surveillance and access control as key to strengthening overall system safety
• 31% say new security technology and infrastructure are top budget priorities for the next 12 months

In addition, risk assessments and threat intelligence, process optimization, employee training, collaboration with local law enforcement and staffing increases are key priorities.

The Budget Imperative: Efficiency at the Forefront

Constrained budgets are a reality for many government agencies. They are particularly challenging for transit organizations, which must make tough decisions when prioritizing spending that directly impacts the public. The 2025 World Security Report survey data reveal the following areas as the most important transit agencies in the coming years.

Cost Savings

Financial realities are among the most significant pressures on transit agencies’ security strategies. Respondents ranked the need to reduce costs and operate more efficiently with tight budgets as number one.  The need to “do more with less” means optimizing staffing and technology to manage security protocols and deliver a positive commuter experience effectively.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

As transit agencies upgrade their operations and expand their security programs, they also must adhere to complex regulations. State and municipal transit agencies are subject to mandates from the Federal Transit Administration’s safety and security performance measurement guidance, which outlines mandates for systems, training, and incident‐reporting protocols.  In addition to potential safety impacts, a failure to comply with regulatory requirements can result in funding losses.

Physical Security Upgrades

Combined with visible security staff, physical security measures such as barriers and surveillance systems help protect the community against assaults, deter fare evasion, and thwart vandalism.  Transit agencies have reported significant reductions in serious crimes when these two elements are in place at stations and on platforms.

Technology Investment

As threats to transit become more sophisticated, investment in security solutions that are both technology- and infrastructure-based is a leading priority. With over half of World Security Report transit industry respondents ranking investment in new security technology and infrastructure as a top three strategic priority, it’s clear the industry is bracing for an influx of both digital and physical attacks. AI-powered surveillance and biometric authentication are just some of the solutions transit organizations are beginning to adopt.

Risk Assessments

A third of respondents say that conducting security risk assessments and threat intelligence analysis is a top priority. Knowing where the risks are and what actionable intelligence is available can help transit operators make more informed decisions about how best to deploy resources.  Determining proactive strategies to address potential threats, rather than simply being reactive, is key.

Workforce Investment

Workforce development is also a priority for transit security agencies. Training and upskilling transit security staff is a top-three priority for 19% of respondents. Expanding security capacity through hiring and retention is a top-three priority for 13%. This finding may indicate that, instead of addressing security needs by simply adding headcount, transit agencies are shifting how they build capacity by leveraging their existing workforce through training and upskilling. By training its employees to perform new or better functions, an agency can dramatically increase performance for a comparatively low cost.

Law Enforcement Collaboration

Collaboration with outside agencies was not a high priority for many respondents. One reason may be that agencies have often struggled to work with local police departments regarding responsiveness and overall customer service policies of transit systems.  While police officers have a specific duty and obligation to enforce the law, they are not charged with implementing the agency's customer service policies. Many agencies are now using a hybrid approach combining sworn officers, either in-house or contracted, with private security partners to strengthen their overall presence on the transit system for security and customer service.

Community Insights Driving Safer Transit in Portland

Many transit agencies are taking a hard look at their rider safety policies and inviting increased community input to help tailor security efforts for their specific locations.  Andrew Wilson, executive director of safety and security and chief safety officer at TriMet in Portland, Ore., says TriMet’s strategic, community-focused approach to transit security has resulted in remarkable improvements. 

“We conduct regular passenger surveys, which keep our team focused on what our customers need and want, as well as gauge the impact of the agency’s safety investments,” Wilson says.  “In fact, we moved away from armed security officers patrolling the stations to patrols of unarmed security professionals based on rider input saying there was too much law enforcement presence. With this revised approach, our transit security officers can handle several duties previously managed by law enforcement, and we continue to see ridership gains alongside reductions in crime.”

According to TriMet’s current annual report, robbery and assault incidents have dropped more than 70% since 2022. “In just three years, we’ve seen remarkable improvements,” Wilson said.

Transit Security Resources

A recent study by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) found that, in addition to general security incidents, human trafficking and infrastructure theft are also on the rise.  With major events and celebrations planned in 2026, including America’s 250th anniversary and the FIFA World Cup, security challenges are an even higher priority for transit agencies.

APTA, with input from its security affairs committee, has created a security awareness toolkit highlighting resources and programs offered by some of the nation's largest transit agencies to increase riders’ personal security awareness. The toolkit provides information on anti-harassment initiatives, details on mobile apps that make it easier for riders and employees to report crime, and posters and awareness cards that can be used to foster a proactive approach to safety.

Building Trust, Enhancing Security

By making smart investments in technology, along with enhanced workforce training and community partnerships, transit agencies are getting ahead of an evolving security landscape. Integrating data-driven tactics with a renewed focus on rider outreach and experience, agencies are driving down crime while also building public trust to create transit systems that passengers can count on every day.