Federal transit chief calls for data from T, citing ‘protected journey’ issues

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation is demanding data from the MBTA over security issues, threatening to withhold federal funding if the T fails to reply inside two weeks.

Secretary Sean Duffy, in a letter to MBTA Chief Phil Eng dated Thursday, cited the federal company’s “continued focus on ensuring safe travel in Boston” in looking for details about the T’s “practices and expenditures.”

Duffy requested data on how the T plans to “reduce crime, vagrancy and fare evasion on the transit system.” The administration additionally restated its curiosity in South Station, asking for extra particulars on how the T is making certain the protection of passengers touring by there and different main transit services.

The letter cites no particular statistics about crime on Boston’s transit strains; it notes two latest reviews, of a lady being shoved off a bus and a person attacking somebody with a belt. In a press launch, the Transportation Department mentioned “Chicago and Boston are on notice to take actions that enhance safety and reduce the crime affecting their riders and transit workers — or risk federal support.”

The calls for point out a swift ratcheting up of consideration on the T by the Trump administration, which can be suing the Wu administration over immigration enforcement and sending the National Guard into different U.S. cities.

In an announcement, the T’s Eng mentioned this week he spoke with FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro in Boston “about our shared commitment in ensuring the security of every passenger, and we are in agreement about providing the safest commute possible for all riders and employees.”

He mentioned because the T and its Transit Police Department “continue to work together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, I want to assure the public that safety is at the heart of everything we do at the T.”

Under previous administrations, federal transit officers have targeted on the T’s rail security and procedures, in addition to wanted upgrades of infrastructure and operations. The MBTA has lengthy struggled from underinvestment and has made main enhancements beneath Eng.

The Trump administration, in contrast, seems to be emphasizing “crime and threatening encounters with drug addicts or the mentally ill,” in accordance with the Duffy letter.

State Sen. Brendan Crighton, who chairs the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation, referred to as Duffy’s letter “misguided” and “just another political game.” He mentioned the state takes crime critically however mentioned the letter made a “blind accusation” missing statistics or info.

“At a time when we’re making the investments to improve our system, when we’ve made a ton of progress, to threaten to take away funding,” he mentioned, “just doesn’t make any sense at all.”

The press launch mentioned Duffy additionally despatched a letter to the Chicago Transit Authority. Earlier this yr, his workplace mentioned, he despatched comparable letters to transit authorities in Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles.