On Nov. 12, Metro Transit released a statement that they will be increasing Metro Transit police presence on the Blue Line and Green Line light rails as well as Community Service Officers, Transit Riders Investment Program (TRIP) Agents and security officers. These officers and agents will be “highly visible” during the busiest hours and late hours.
This increase in official presence comes as a part of the 40-plus actions in Metro Transit’s Safety & Security Action Plan. This action plan centers around three areas of work, which are improving conditions on the system, training and supporting employees, and engaging customers and partners. Other actions that Metro Transit has taken include expanding the Transit Rider Investment Program, in which TRIP agents inspect fares and assist riders; improving station conditions by cleaning and renovating them; and having de-escalation training for staff.
According to Metro Transit, crime has gone down 21%, and officer-initiated calls for service, a measure of how active police officers are, are up 129% compared to last year. Despite this, surveys show that safety is a big concern among Metro Transit riders. According to The Star Tribune, public transit systems have struggled with low ridership since the pandemic, but Metro Transit has struggled more than other systems…