In the early hours of Monday, March 2, a passenger on an Edmonton transit bus was physically assaulted while en route through Churchill Station to catch the Valley Line LRT. The rider recounted being struck in the face and conveyed this incident via text message to Transit Watch, the safety reporting line of Edmonton Transit Services, later that day. The rider explained the delay in reporting, stating the immediate priority was to leave the scene and return home.
On the same day, Transit Watch received multiple reports from riders highlighting issues such as harassment, drug use in public, drug transactions, an incident of setting fire at a bus stop, and an individual brandishing a flame lighter within a transit hub. Despite ongoing efforts by the City of Edmonton to enhance public transit safety through the recruitment of additional peace officers and police personnel, expanding outreach teams, and investing in cleanliness and security enhancements, text messages received by the reporting line within a month earlier this year indicated persistent concerns among many riders regarding safety within the system.
Text reports obtained by CBC News, covering the period from mid-February to mid-March through a request under the Access to Information Act, detailed ongoing safety issues reported across various locations in the city. Numerous reports emphasized worries about drug usage and smoking in LRT stations, bus stops, and pedestrian pathways. Instances of witnessing individuals consuming meth, crack, and fentanyl on transit premises, as well as experiencing verbal abuse and discriminatory remarks from drug-affected passengers, were prevalent in the messages.
Additionally, riders expressed discomfort due to encountering drug-related activities, witnessing drug deals, discovering drug paraphernalia, observing disruptive behaviors like urination and yelling, and encountering hazardous items like broken glass or used condoms in transit facilities. Reports also mentioned incidents such as blood spills, fires, physical altercations, and threats within transit areas.
One regular transit user, Katarina Hamilton, disclosed her monthly communication with Transit Watch and highlighted instances of witnessing disruptive behaviors like fires and blockages, particularly during late evening and early morning hours. She recounted an incident from a year earlier involving a violent altercation at Central Station, which prompted her to report the incident to Transit Watch and contact the police out of concern for her safety and that of nearby children.
Despite ongoing efforts to address safety concerns, surveys conducted by ETS revealed that the percentage of riders feeling safe during their transit trips remained unchanged at 61% in 2025 compared to the previous year. ETS attributed the challenge of shifting safety perceptions to various influencing factors and noted an increase in texts to Transit Watch during colder months, along with a rise in ridership and safety line promotions.
To enhance transit safety perceptions, ETS is implementing various measures, including the addition of 30 peace officers and an additional community outreach team. Initiatives such as providing cellular connectivity in LRT tunnels, enhancing rider engagement, offering travel training support, and infrastructure upgrades at stations are expected to contribute to improving safety perceptions. City council members, including Coun. Anne Stevenson, emphasized the importance of addressing root causes of social disorder and supporting initiatives like safety attendants to enhance public transit safety.
As cities grapple with issues of drug use on public transit, transit planning experts like David Cooper underscore the importance of sustained support from all levels of government to address these challenges effectively. Cooper’s recommendations align with the efforts made by cities such as Edmonton in augmenting enforcement, outreach, and infrastructure improvements to deter criminal activities within transit systems.