FTA asks transit agencies to step up suicide prevention efforts

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) this week called on transit-rail agencies to help reduce trespassing and suicide-related fatalities by performing safety risk assessments and implementing mitigation efforts.

Trespassing and suicide events are the leading cause of transit-related fatalities and have been increasing in recent years, FTA officials said in a press release. Safety Advisory 25-1: Reducing Rail Trespassing and Suicide Events recommends that State Safety Oversight Agencies direct the transit-rail agencies in their jurisdictions to take further action to reduce these events, which in 2024 accounted for 50% of all transit-rail fatalities reported to the National Transit Database.

The FTA compiled safety risk mitigation resources including reports, videos and tools successfully implemented by other transit authorities. 

Agencies are encouraged to use the foundational "3Es" safety framework when developing solutions to trespassing and suicide events: Engineering solutions to prevent access and mitigate risk; Education to intervene early; and Enforcement and partnerships for coordinated response. Examples of these efforts include anti-trespassing infrastructure, detection systems, public safety campaigns and front-line staff training.