According to newly released figures, Edmonton’s public transit system is becoming increasingly safer. This encouraging development was highlighted in data shared with the city council on a recent Wednesday.
The figures, derived from police data, revealed a notable 36% decrease in non-violent crime within the public transit system from August to September, with violent incidents plummeting by an impressive 47%. Further positive news emerged from the Edmonton Transit data, showing a near 23% increase in transit riders, rising from 3,915,065 to just over 5 million commuters within the same time frame.
The increase in ridership can be partly credited to the inclusion of students returning to school. Moreover, even compared to the previous year, ridership surged by 14% in September.
Ward Aniriq Councillor, Erin Rutherford, emphasized the importance of maintaining these trends to ensure trust in the transit system is restored. Edmonton’s Director of Transit Safety, Duane Hunter, expressed a similar sentiment, stating that adherence to the data would be crucial for accurately allocating resources and sustaining this downward crime trend.
Hunter acknowledged the complex social issues that influence transit and highlighted the necessity for them to be addressed. He affirmed that by working on the root causes that lead people to seek support and services within the transit system, more sustainable outcomes could be achieved.
Edmonton has actively been working on bolstering transit safety by increasing the number of transit peace officers, with 35 new additions since early 2022. Furthermore, eight more are expected to start by November, adding to the current 85 officers.
In an additional boost to law enforcement within transit, the Alberta government pledged funding in early 2023 for 50 additional police officers dedicated to transit spaces. So far, 21 of the officers pledged have been assigned, with the remaining 29 expected by the end of 2024.
Demand for shelter and housing support has seen a rise according to city community standards data. However, the Alberta government’s increased funding has allowed for the provision of over 1,700 additional shelter spaces this year.
However, despite reports of a 19% decrease in drug-related incidents, such behavior remains a top concern for most riders, according to a popular transit QR code survey. Councillor Rutherford acknowledged the open-air drug use problem within the city but affirmed her sense of safety during her daily commute.
Inspector Angela Kemp, in charge of Edmonton Police Service’s crime suppression branch, acknowledged the public’s sense of insecurity at the sight of open-air drug use. She assured that proper behavioral intervention was the primary focus, rather than enforcing punitive measures.
Efforts towards improving the physical aspects of the transit system are also underway, with increased security cameras and more stringent cleaning processes for LRT trains. However, altering public perception about transit safety will be a marathon, not a sprint, according to Hunter. He emphasized the need for continued efforts and effective communication with the public to ensure that their perceptions follow the reality.
