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Employees, not gates, are what’s wanted to make Calgary Transit safer, in accordance with a report going earlier than council subsequent week.
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The 96-page report, titled Evaluation of a closed system as a part of the transit safety techniquecuts to the passage in its opening traces,
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“There is no such thing as a correlation between the availability of toll gates and elevated transport security on present techniques with toll gates,” it stated.
“Different transit companies with fare gates have skilled elevated safety-related incidents throughout the pandemic and elevated complexity with intersecting societal concerns affecting public transit.”
Different key findings of the report are {that a} absolutely closed system in Calgary is “not possible” due to the way in which sure stations are built-in into the group.
{A partially} closed system is “technically possible” however just isn’t advisable as a result of it could require vital modifications to most present stations.
Reasonably than making an attempt to close down the system, the report suggests an improved staffing mannequin. It might embody “extra allocations of outreach, customer support, security and legislation enforcement personnel,” together with extra DOAP group and Group Outreach transit group members, an built-in security unit with devoted CPS assets, and extra Calgary Transit ambassadors.
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The report additionally requires the development of hubs at sure stations for the operation of all these additional employees.
The capital value of constructing {a partially} closed system, which isn’t advisable, would value an estimated $283 million {dollars}, whereas the capital value of the elevated staffing is barely an estimated $29 million, primarily for constructing new hubs .
By way of personnel prices, {a partially} closed system would wish extra station keepers in addition to upkeep personnel and a name heart, at an estimated annual value of $23 million.
The complete staffing value of an improved staffing mannequin just isn’t full as a result of the report doesn’t have numbers for devoted CPS assets. Nonetheless, it places the price of extra station ambassadors and group outreach groups at $2.5 million yearly.
The report, which matches to council Wednesday, recommends town present a direct $3.4 million from town’s fiscal stability reserve, higher referred to as the wet day fund, to be supplemented by $6.7 million in subsequent fall’s price range.
A number of councilors have beforehand known as for some form of closed transport system, given ongoing issues with social unrest on the transport system.
On the finish of March, Depend Andre Chabot stated he would welcome a pilot program at sure stations the place it could be simpler to implement.
“Marlborough and Rundle is likely to be two good places to begin with, at the least in my ward, however there are additionally different stations in different wards which have comparable issues.”
brthomas@postmedia.com
Twitter: @brodie_thomas