In the early hours of Monday, March 2, a passenger using Edmonton transit was physically attacked while passing through Churchill Station en route to the Valley Line LRT. The passenger recounted being struck in the face in a text message sent to Transit Watch, Edmonton Transit Services’ safety reporting line later that day. The passenger explained the delay in reporting the incident was due to a desire to quickly leave the area and return home.
On the same day, Transit Watch received multiple reports from passengers regarding various safety concerns, including harassment, drug use, drug transactions, a fire at a bus stop, and an individual brandishing a flame lighter within a transit center. Despite ongoing efforts by the City of Edmonton to enhance public transit safety over the years through the recruitment of additional peace and police officers, expansion of outreach teams, and increased investments in cleaning and security upgrades, text messages sent to the reporting line earlier this year indicated persistent apprehensions among many passengers about safety within the system.
Text messages obtained by CBC News, requested through the Access to Information Act, revealed a stream of reports sent to the line between mid-February and mid-March. These documents, spanning over 200 pages, detailed incoming reports and responses from the control center, highlighting daily reports from various areas across the city.
Concerns expressed in the reports mainly revolved around drug use and smoking in LRT stations, bus stops, and pedways. Passengers reported encountering individuals using meth, crack, and fentanyl on transit premises. Instances of harassment, verbal abuse, and antisemitic remarks directed at passengers by individuals under the influence of drugs were also documented. There were reports of drug deals, drug paraphernalia discoveries, public urination, disturbances, and obstructions within transit areas.
Furthermore, passengers mentioned incidents such as finding a used condom in a ticket machine at Davies Transit Centre, pools of blood at Belvedere Transit Station, fires being ignited in transit zones, broken glass, altercations, and threats of violence at various LRT stations.
Regular transit user Katarina Hamilton disclosed her monthly communication with Transit Watch and her observations of individuals obstructing entrances and setting fires, particularly during late evening and early morning hours. She recounted a past incident at Central Station where a violent altercation involving weapons occurred, prompting her to contact Transit Watch and the police for assistance.
Despite efforts to bolster safety measures on transit, surveys conducted by ETS indicated a consistent safety perception among riders, with 61% feeling safe during their most recent transit trips in 2025, unchanged from the previous year. ETS Branch Manager Carrie Hotton-MacDonald noted the complexity of factors influencing passengers’ safety perceptions, making short-term shifts challenging. She highlighted an increase in texts to Transit Watch during colder months, alongside a rise in service usage and promotional efforts.
Data from the Edmonton Police Service revealed a rise in police responses to violent incidents at LRT and transit center locations, from 292 occurrences in 2024 to 307 incidents in 2025, with lower call volumes recorded in the current year.
To enhance rider safety, ETS is implementing various initiatives, including the addition of 30 peace officers and an eighth community outreach team. Hotton-MacDonald outlined additional measures planned for the year, such as providing cellular connectivity in LRT tunnels, enhancing rider engagement, offering travel training support, and making infrastructure upgrades at stations.
City Councillor Anne Stevenson emphasized the council’s commitment to transit safety, citing initiatives like pop-up events by the Edmonton Arts Council to enliven downtown LRT stations. She expressed support for safety attendants and acknowledged the persistent challenges stemming from unaddressed social disorder issues.
In addressing public transit drug use and safety concerns, David Cooper, principal of Leading Mobility Consulting, emphasized the need for sustained support from provincial and federal partners to complement cities’ efforts. Cooper underscored the importance of continuous support beyond one-time announcements to ensure lasting improvements in transit safety.
-END-