Federal Investigation Launched into MARTA Following Violent Incidents

<p>Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has initiated a federal investigation into Atlanta’s Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) due to a series of violent incidents, including the fatal stabbing of a 66-year-old woman aboard a train.</p><p>The Department of Transportation announced the review this week, citing concerns about rider safety and rising crime on the transit system.</p><p>“Every American should be disturbed by the horrific crimes we have seen on MARTA in the last month,” Duffy stated. “No one should be forced to fear for their safety simply because they choose to ride public transit.”</p><p>The investigation was prompted by the May killing of Margaret Swan, who was fatally stabbed while riding a MARTA train. Surveillance video reportedly showed 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews approaching Swan without provocation before stabbing her multiple times as she attempted to defend herself. Swan died at the scene.</p><p>This attack occurred less than a week after another stabbing at a MARTA station, which left a 40-year-old man injured.</p><p>Duffy’s Transportation Department has given MARTA 15 days to submit detailed plans to address fare evasion, along with its security budgets for 2026 and 2027, and records of all safety-related funding received from the Department of Homeland Security for review and analysis.</p><p>Duffy noted that the administration has already encouraged transit agencies in other major cities to enhance security measures.</p><p>The Transportation Department reported that Chicago has increased police patrols, Washington, D.C., has seen a decline in transit crime, Los Angeles has appointed a police chief dedicated to the transit authority, and Philadelphia has expanded its camera network.</p><p>The urgency of this push has increased following a series of violent attacks, including the killing of Debrina Kawam, who was set on fire aboard a New York City subway train in 2024, and the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on North Carolina’s light rail system.</p>