Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, with nearly 25 million victims worldwide, including in the United States. Traffickers use all modes of transportation to conduct their activities and often use public transit because it is low cost, offers greater anonymity in buying fare cards, and provides less direct interaction with government or transit officials.
FTA’s Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative is a public safety initiative that supports the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative through transit-focused industry engagement, education, public awareness and outreach, and research and technical assistance to combat human trafficking in transit. In addition, the program supports FTA’s operator assault and crime prevention efforts. The initiative aims to maximize the transit industry’s collective impact to address human trafficking and other public safety concerns.
-FTA Website Description
FTA Grant Link
"Combating Human Trafficking in North Carolina through Bus Operator Training and Public Awareness" (2020 FTA Innovations in Transit Public Safety Grant Submittal)
On January 28th, 2020, the FTA awarded the North Carolina Department of Transportation $120,000 in funding to implement a training program for transit employees across the state on how to recognize and respond to the signs of human trafficking. The department also will develop human trafficking awareness educational materials to be posted on transit vehicles and stations.