Mitigation Strategies for Deterring Transit Assaults (2025)
Chapter: 8 Conclusion
CHAPTER 8
Conclusion
This guide is intended to assist transit agencies considering mitigation strategies to address assaults on passengers and transit workers (not drivers). It is based on an extensive literature review; assault data exploration; a survey of transit agencies; focus groups with transit safety and security personnel, large and small transit agencies, and labor union representatives; and interviews with six transit agencies.
This guide provides background on transit assaults based on findings from the literature search, a summary of available assault data trends in the United States, a list of mitigation strategies to prevent or reduce assaults, a description of the interactive matrix of countermeasures, and suggestions for post-assault actions. Also included in this guide are resources, references, images, and citations for agency staff to explore further. The interactive matrix of countermeasures, described in Chapter 7, is a separate product of this research project. An additional product of this project is a social media toolkit that provides transit agencies with suggestions for implementing a social media campaign along with images, messages, reminders, and ideas. Both items can be found on the National Academies Press catalog page for TCRP Research Report 258: Mitigation Strategies for Deterring Transit Assaults (https://doi.org/10.17226/29204) under “Resources at a Glance.”
With this guide, transit agencies are better equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance safety and security. The inclusion of an interactive countermeasure matrix and a social media toolkit further supports agencies in implementing targeted strategies and raising awareness. Ultimately, the results of this research project will foster a safer transit environment through informed decision making and proactive intervention.
