The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has launched a comprehensive review of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's (MARTA) safety and security plans, as well as its spending on security measures. The intensified federal scrutiny follows the stabbing death of Margaret Swan, a 66-year-old great-grandmother, on a MARTA train on May 30.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on X that the FTA is examining all aspects of MARTA's plans to ensure substantive improvements are being made. This review includes analyzing documentation and conducting on-site visits to assess the situation. "We will continue to work to secure Atlanta's system for passengers and transit workers alike," Duffy said.
Margaret Swan was attacked on a northbound MARTA train near the Oakland City Station. According to a Fulton County arrest warrant, 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews allegedly approached Swan, opened a folding knife, and proceeded to stab her approximately 18 to 20 times in the neck and chest. Witnesses reported no prior interaction between Swan and Matthews. Swan was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by first responders.
MARTTA police arrested Matthews at the station, allegedly with a bloody knife in his possession. He faces a local felony murder charge and a federal charge of committing an act of violence causing death on a mass transportation system. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will determine if the death penalty will be sought in the federal case.
Duffy previously raised concerns about transit safety, noting in an X post that assault, robbery, and rape rates on MARTA trains are reportedly more than three times the national average. The FTA's audit will specifically assess whether MARTA has effectively implemented its safety plans and allocated federal funds for security improvements as intended.