Edmonton transit riders report daily drug use, assaults, fires at stations
Access-to-information documents reveal 200+ safety incidents reported in one month, from open drug use to weapons threats.
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Edmonton transit riders are reporting drug use, assaults, fires and weapons threats almost daily, according to text messages sent to Transit Watch between mid-February and mid-March.
One rider was punched in the face at Churchill Station and didn't report it sooner because they "just wanted to get out of there and get home." That same day in early March, Transit Watch received reports of harassment, open drug use, drug dealing, a fire at a bus stop and someone waving a flame lighter inside a transit centre.
Many riders texted concerns about witnessing people using meth, crack and fentanyl across the system. One person reported being harassed and sworn at for 10 minutes by someone on drugs. Another said a passenger high on drugs directed antisemitic insults and hateful comments toward them without provocation. A rider at Kingsway/Royal Alex LRT station wrote: "Sure would be great to make my commute without being exposed to illegal drugs and dangerously unstable addicts EVERY day."
Other incidents included pools of blood inside Belvedere Transit Station, shattered glass, people shoved on trains, stabbing threats at MacEwan LRT station, and someone reaching into a ticket machine at Davies Transit Centre and finding a used condom.
Frequent rider Katarina Hamilton said she texts Transit Watch about once a month and regularly sees people blocking entrances and lighting fires, especially between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. She witnessed a fight involving weapons at Central Station about a year ago and said having more peace officers and security cameras on buses would make her feel safer.
The city has been investing in safety measures including additional peace and police officers, expanded outreach teams, and spending on cleaning and security upgrades. The documents show the scope of the problem riders continue to face, though the city has not disclosed current numbers of officers deployed or total budget spent on these measures over the past three years.
How many total incidents were reported to Transit Watch during the February-March period covered by these access-to-information documents?
How many peace officers and police officers is Edmonton Transit Services currently deploying across the system?
What specific security upgrades has the city completed, and where have they been installed?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What types of incidents did Edmonton transit riders report?
Edmonton transit riders reported drug use, assaults, fires, weapons threats, harassment, and stabbing threats across the system between mid-February and mid-March.
What drugs did riders report witnessing?
Riders reported witnessing people using meth, crack, and fentanyl across Edmonton's transit system.
What safety measures has Edmonton invested in?
Edmonton has invested in additional peace and police officers, expanded outreach teams, and spending on cleaning and security upgrades.
