City of Calgary reiterates enhanced surveillance for CTrain stations – Calgary

The City of Calgary reiterated its promise for improved security on public transit systems in a security update Monday afternoon.

According to a news release, the city said it is actively recruiting and training new peace officers to patrol CTrain stations. Six transit peace officers graduated last week, the city said, and 14 more will complete their training in early 2023.

The second group of transit peace officers will complete their training next February.

The city said it will have 25 percent more transit peace officers patrolling the system when the hiring process is complete.

The city also wants to recruit and train 31 enhanced security guards to actively patrol the system. These security guards will have more authority than regular security, but the city did not elaborate on what those authorities are.

In addition to new peace officers, the city also announced it will increase staffing levels at Calgary Transit’s operations control center that dispatches officers and monitors CCTV cameras. The increased staffing levels aim to improve the city’s ability to monitor 1,200 CCTV cameras and deploy response teams as needed.

Calgary Transit Ambassadors, a team designed to increase visible presence at CTrain stations, will alert the center when they see or come across issues or incidents. Transit Ambassadors will be on platforms and trains to support passengers.

Calgary Transit director Sharon Fleming said a Bloomberg Center of Public Innovation review found ambassadors are an “effective way” to help improve customers’ perceptions of safety on the transit system.

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“I think it’s a great initiative that’s trying to increase the safety and security on our transportation system,” Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot told reporters Monday.

“We want to try to get people back on the system and we need to ensure that we provide safety and security … This ambassador program will be a great addition downtown.”

The update comes after Calgary Transit announced its relaunch strategy in April, which included enhanced security staff amid safety concerns from riders.

Safety on Calgary Transit has been a growing concern during the pandemic, with CTrain riders saying they often feel unsafe while using the transit system.

Previously, the public transit agency said the City of Calgary earmarked $5.9 million to train and recruit new transit peace officers.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek also said the city is still waiting for provincial funding to help improve transportation safety, which was announced in October.

The city said it will also work with social service programs, such as Alpha House, to provide a multifaceted approach to public transit safety.

“We’re not just using uniformed police officers,” said Aaron Coon, head of the city’s Public Vehicle Standards Division. “Our peace officers and security officers provide a full facet of support to Calgarians.

“We raise issues around security and we use that information to help support how we deploy resources across the transport line.”

Chabot said he is still following a closed system for some CTrain stations in Calgary, which will only allow people to enter stations if they have paid a fare.

However, the system is not feasible for some stations due to fire safety concerns. A report on the possibility of a closed transport system will be published in Q1 2023.

“Many members of the public think it’s a good idea and even some people in the police department believe it’s a good solution. However, it’s a very complex issue, and it’s not that simple,” Chabot said.

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