City Government

Zero Tolerance for Transit Assaults

January 28, 2010

City of Edmonton and Edmonton Police Service collaborate to enhance safety on buses and trains

In the wake of recent assaults on transit operators, the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Police Service are fast-tracking plans to increase ETS operator and rider safety and confidence.

“Our employees should not have to worry about their personal safety when they do their jobs,” says Bob Boutilier, General Manager of Transportation for the City of Edmonton. “We will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour on buses and trains, and those responsible for such behaviour will be held to account.”

Edmonton Police Service Chief Mike Boyd says, “We will continue to work closely with ETS to ensure our transit operators and riders are kept safe. As a police service we rely on information from the public to catch suspects. In several cases we have investigated, Edmontonians are showing that they are not willing to sit back and let crime occur. In many instances, witnesses have been able to provide valuable information to our investigators that has led to criminal charges.”

The City of Edmonton is taking a number of steps to reinforce safe practices and a safe work environment, including:

enhanced training for operators to better help them deal with dangerous situations;
reviewing bylaws to better address inappropriate behaviour, with a potential result of increased fines for offenders.

New technology will also help enhance the level of safety on buses and trains. This includes:

a new radio system with a dedicated emergency channel;
the continued installation and testing of operator shields;
the use of Closed Circuit Television on buses to better monitor activities;
and the implementation of GPS and Automatic Vehicle Location devices.

The City is also:

examining best practices of other municipalities;
holding operator ‘town hall’ meetings to discuss the issues and provide helpful information;
and having ETS management take part in ‘ride-alongs’ with Safety and Security to better understand the challenges faced by operators.

In addition, ETS Safety and Security has formed a committee with the other divisions within ETS as well as with Amalgamated Transit Union 569 which is tasked with reviewing safety concerns and providing recommendations to enhance the safety of our operators and the public.

“Many Edmontonians rely on the convenient, cost-effective services provided through ETS,” says Boutilier. “It is my duty to make sure that our operators have a safe, secure environment in which to do their jobs, and that those people who choose to ride either the bus or the LRT can do so without concern.”

For more information:

Ben Mittelsteadt

City of Edmonton

Title	Communications Officer
Telephone	780-496-8275

Lisa Lammi

Edmonton Police Service

Telephone	780-421-2638