HR6298-119

2. Operating grants for crime prevention and security Section 5321 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— by striking The Secretary and inserting (a) In general.—The Secretary; and by adding at the end the following: The Secretary may make grants for operating activities for public transportation systems to any entity eligible to receive funds under section 5307, notwithstanding the population requirement under section (a)(1)(D) of such section. Funds made available under this subsection may be used for the following: Hiring additional officers to police on public transportation and transit stations, including the immediate vicinity of stations. Contracting with local police departments to increase officer presence on public transportation and transit stations. Physical infrastructure upgrades that promote public transportation passenger and operator safety (including monitoring devices, operator shields, and other infrastructure changes). There is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this subsection. The Secretary of Transportation shall enter into an agreement with Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, to conduct and submit to Congress, in consultation with labor organizations representing frontline transit workers, a study on crime prevention by transit agencies that includes— what such agencies are doing to prevent crime; what tactics have been successful in deterring crime; what tactics have been unsuccessful in deterring crime; and best practices for transit agencies to reduce crime within public transportation systems. (b)Operating grants for urbanized areas(1)In generalThe Secretary may make grants for operating activities for public transportation systems to any entity eligible to receive funds under section 5307, notwithstanding the population requirement under section (a)(1)(D) of such section. (2)Eligible activitiesFunds made available under this subsection may be used for the following:(A)Hiring additional officers to police on public transportation and transit stations, including the immediate vicinity of stations.(B)Contracting with local police departments to increase officer presence on public transportation and transit stations.(C)Physical infrastructure upgrades that promote public transportation passenger and operator safety (including monitoring devices, operator shields, and other infrastructure changes).(3)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this subsection..