Commentary: Straight Talk with Sam

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves R-Missouri

Dear Friend,

Most have probably seen the horrific video or images of Iryna Zarutska, who was savagely murdered while riding the train last month in Charlotte. The man who stabbed her was charged with first-degree murder this week. It’s a stark reminder that being soft on crime simply does not work.

It’s also a reminder that we have some major problems with our transit systems. The average number of homicides on transit systems more than doubled in the five-year period between 2020 and 2024, while assaults on transit systems increased by 80 percent.

In Kansas City, they implemented a free fare policy in 2020. It was a complete disaster, which is why the city finally reversed that terrible policy. Not only was it completely unsustainable, but it also scared riders away. It’s not just Kansas City or Charlotte though; look at a lot of major cities and you’ll see that their transit agencies have major work to do to keep riders safe.

Most of us don’t use public transit very often, but when we do, we expect it to be safe. And for those that depend on it every day, they need it to be safe.

As the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m committed to putting a stop to violent crime on public transit. This week, we held a roundtable with officials from the Trump administration, local transit and law enforcement on how we can do just that. I welcomed Kansas City Chief of Police Stacey Graves to share her insight and experience on the issue from a law enforcement perspective.

As we work on the next surface transportation bill, making transit systems safe for the public will be a priority. We owe it to riders, who shouldn’t have to fear for their lives on the way to work, no matter which city they are in. We also owe it to the taxpayers, who ultimately end up footing the bill for these systems. I’m glad the Trump Administration views this as a priority as well and we’ll work together to make sure that transit policy reflects the importance of keeping our citizens safe.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves