Future Federal Oversight of South Station?

The front entrance to South Station in Boston, Massachusetts. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

As violence on public transportation increases, so has federal awareness and involvement, with Boston’s South Station being a focal point in a broader national push to improve major transit hubs. On Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) General Manager Phillip Eng demanding safety and security improvements for both riders and workers. The letter addressed multiple concerns, including cleanliness, security, violence, and safety. It also referenced the use of federal budget and grants for transportation purposes, encouraging the MBTA to utilize these resources. Boston wasn’t the only city that Duffy has reached out to, however; he has also sent communications of “notice” to densely populated areas, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.

A key aspect of Duffy’s letter was urgency. The US Department of Transportation gave the MBTA a two-week deadline to identify and implement security measures, or risk losing federal funding. The MBTA is supported by state tax revenue, fares, and local assessments, meaning it doesn’t rely solely on federal funds, which are used towards station upgrades and service expansions. The MBTA is heavily focused on enforcing rider fares, as fare evasion has been a significant source of revenue loss. The federal government feels that this shouldn’t be the priority, arguing, “local leaders…Chicago and Boston are on notice to take actions…risk federal support. ”

In this recent speech, Duffy referenced Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death in August on a light rail train in Charlotte, NC. Zarutska’s unprovoked stabbing isn’t the only recent attack taking place on public transportation. Last week, a 63-year-old woman was shoved off an MBTA bus in Boston. She endured a concussion and broken blood vessels in her neck and eye. Another incident occurred last month on an MBTA bus in Cambridge. An unidentified man harassed fellow passengers by threatening and hitting them with his belt. One victim was severely injured. These acts of violence on public transportation around the country have caught the federal government's attention and prompted action.

Duffy’s letter also advocated for specific improvements to the major MBTA transit hub South Station, explaining that “particular focus must be on key transportation and intermodal hubs such as South Station to ensure a safe and clean environment for the many passengers and rail workers passing through these locations.” Duffy’s specification of the South Station can be seen as part of a pattern of federal prioritization of busier transportation hubs. As in August, the Department of Transportation announced a plan to reclaim management of another enormous hub, Washington, D.C.’s Union Station. 

In response to Duffy’s letter, Eng implied that the agency is cooperating, stating, “We value and appreciate our long-standing partnerships with the USDOT and FTA, and we have a common goal to ensure that riders are safe and feel safe while using public transportation.” Deputy Director of Transportation Steven Bradbury also hinted that the federal government could consider potentially taking over other East Coast stations. At the South Station unveiling of the NextGen Acela trains, Bradbury explained, “Here in South Boston, we need to address the cleanliness, the crime, the safety, and security of the station for the rail workers, for the passengers.”

Even though many federal officials with concerns of public safety and security at South Station have offered their insights, local Boston residents don’t appear to want their involvement. Boston.com conducted a poll asking local readers if they were in favor of the federal government taking over South Station. From the over 1,000 responses, 64% of respondents felt that the federal government should not take over the station, while 33% said they should. One reader stated, “South Station belongs to Boston and reflects on Boston and Massachusetts. The federal government is just trying to continue their power grab and needs to keep their hands out of Massachusetts.” 

It isn’t just local Bostonians that are against this threat; Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a statement in late August responding to the potential South Station takeover threat, claiming, “It’s more political theater, more political power grabs from Donald Trump. We don’t need or want his interference here. We’re not going to let the guy who went bankrupt six times take over our train stations.” Healey’s advocacy against federal involvement in South Station questions a standstill between accepting federal intervention or reinforcing local control. While federal agencies can provide crucial funding and oversight, local governments often have a better understanding of specific community needs. With the two-week deadline approaching on October 2, the MBTA must initiate a thorough plan of action, as its resolution may set the precedent for future collaboration between local and federal authorities in addressing safety, security, infrastructure, and public trust.