City of Calgary implementing enhanced safety measures on transit system

According to Calgary Transit, enhanced safety measures will be implemented for an expected rise in transit use as work-from-home orders are lifted.

In an effort to reduce a rise in social disorder on the city’s transit network, the City of Calgary is implementing enhanced safety measures for the next several weeks.

Starting Monday, more transit peace officers, bylaw officers, Calgary Police Service members and uniformed security guards will be stationed across the transit system, a city release said.

Ambassadors will be on site at some station entrances to check for proof that riders paid their fare, with additional staff deployed to monitor security cameras and coordinate with peace officers and emergency officials.

“Like other major cities in North America, Calgary has experienced an increase in social disorder on the transit system during the pandemic,” Calgary Transit director Sharon Fleming said in a statement. “Though we have taken various measures to improve system safety over the past two years, we have heard clearly from citizens that there is more to do. This plan is intended to support a safer experience for all of our riders.”

These additional measures are expected to remain in place over the next “several weeks.”

Addressing social disorder on the transit system has been a significant issue for Calgary Transit and the city over the last two years. 

Earlier this year, Calgary Transit officials closed three train stations overnight to address “large gatherings” of people trying to seek shelter inside during a frigid cold-snap.

At the time, city officials said roughly 170 people were seeking shelter in the stations per night. Those stations lack washrooms and regular temperature control overnight.