Federal Transit Administration

FTA recently spoke at the 2025 Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Expo and highlighted guidance to reduce bus collisions and assaults on transit workers using new available data. For more information on how transit agencies can better use safety data to protect workers and riders, visit: tinyurl.com/2a9c39bp

Yesterday, FTA Regional Administrator Ray Tellis spoke at the 2025 Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Expo, where he emphasized the Administration’s strong support for rural and small urban transit systems nationwide. With more than 20% of Americans living in rural areas—and over 4,500 transit agencies serving them—these systems are essential to connecting communities, sustaining local economies, and expanding opportunity. FTA remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and accessible transportation for seniors, workers, and families.

Today is International Trespass Awareness Day. FTA joins transit agencies around the world in working to prevent tragic and avoidable injuries on rail systems. When riding or near rail transit… 🚆 Stay alert. 🚷 Stay off the tracks. ✅ Stay safe. 🔗 tinyurl.com/33hc93ma

This week, Kentucky’s TANK (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky) hosted its first “Ready to Ride” class, a free monthly workshop designed to help new, returning, and current riders gain confidence using public transit. The class covers everything from pre-boarding tips to signaling your stop, and even includes hands-on practice on a real bus. Subsequent classes will be held on the first Monday of each month at TANK’s main office in Fort Wright. Kudos to TANK for making transit more accessible and user-friendly for everyone. 📅 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/emqp6A5E

Innovation is on the rise in Riverside, CA. As part of the Riverside Transit Agency’s two-year pilot program, riders can now board one of the nation’s first fully self-driving, publicly accessible transit shuttles. Each vehicle operates on a pre-mapped route at up to 25 mph and includes an onboard attendant to assist passengers. Service launched last month at the Riverside Municipal Airport, with additional routes to downtown and UC Riverside expected by the end of the program’s first year. 🚍

As part of President Trump’s “Get America Building Again” agenda, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently executed a first-of-its-kind agreement to streamline historic preservation reviews for transportation projects in Connecticut. The agreement delegates key responsibilities to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, giving the state more control over federally funded road, rail, and transit projects within its borders. This innovative approach is expected to reduce project timelines by at least six weeks, accelerating delivery, cutting red tape, and empowering Connecticut to lead. tinyurl.com/448uh5wd 🛤️🛣️

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. At FTA, we want our transit workers to know that we see them. When radical politicians refuse to enforce law and order the physical safety and mental health of our transit workers suffers. We recognize their commitment to keeping American families moving and call on local officials to prioritize their well-being. FTA has compiled online resources on wellness, resilience, self-care, and more to support the transit industry in addressing mental health and improving security on our nation’s transportation systems. tinyurl.com/bdrhfd79 #mentalhealthawareness

Thanks to nearly $5 million in FTA grants, Oneida Public Transit in Wisconsin recently opened a new, centrally located transit garage. The new facility will help the agency maintain its fleet, expand storage for parts and supplies, and strengthen rider connections across the Oneida Nation, including to bus transfer centers, medical facilities, and other destinations. 

Transit ridership is surging across the Bay Area. From January to March 2025, transit agencies in the region recorded 3.2 million more trips than during the same period last year. Caltrain, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, San Francisco Bay Ferry, BART, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and more have all seen strong ridership growth. FTA is proud to support these improvements as the Bay Area continues to build a more connected, rider-focused future.

Last year, Quincy Transit in western Illinois saw a 14% increase in ridership, totaling over 280,000 rides—the highest since 2019. The agency attributes this growth to the system’s convenience and affordability, which enable residents to access jobs, healthcare, local businesses, and more.