U.S. Sen. Lee introduces transit safety accountability bill

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) last week introduced the Safe Transit Accountability Act, which would prohibit labor unions from blocking public transportation agencies' safety projects.

U.S. Reps. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) and Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) previously introduced the bill (H.R.4900) in the House. The legislation has been endorsed by the Utah Transit Authority, Utah Department of Transportation and American Public Transportation Association, officials from Lee's office said in a press release.

The bill aims to remove unions' ability to put a hold on safety plans and related federal funding. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) requires transit agencies who receive certain funds to create safety committees with an equal number of labor union and transit agency members. 

These committees must approve safety plans, giving unions the ability to obstruct the plans during negotiations and therefore jeopardize agencies' federal funding, according to Lee.

"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," Lee said.