Addressing social disorder and reducing incidents on Calgary’s transit system is a top priority for The City. We are committed to providing a safe, reliable and welcoming transit system that Calgarians want to use.

The Public Transit Safety Strategy, supported by an annual, ongoing Council-approved investment of $15 million, outlines a comprehensive approach to improving safety, reducing social disorder and supporting vulnerable individuals.

Integrated response. Transit Public Safety has adopted a district deployment model, decentralizing peace officer operations across four district offices: Westbrook, downtown, Chinook Mall and Whitehorn. This model fosters stronger community connections, ensures equitable resource distribution and supports collaborative safety efforts with outreach groups.

The district model also reduces travel time and improves response times for calls for service.

More transit peace officers. In November 2024, 26 new transit peace officers graduated, completing The City’s hiring program. More than 70 officers were added, reaching the target of 185 officers by year-end.

Connecting community resources. Transit safety extends beyond the system. We work with partners such as Calgary Police Service, Calgary Alpha House Society, Calgary Drop-In Centre and Calgary Homeless Foundation to connect vulnerable individuals with essential services through prevention and intervention strategies.

Protecting operators. On May 27, 2025, Council approved a $15 million one-time investment from the fiscal stability reserve to retrofit buses with secure driver separation barriers, enhancing operator safety.

Amendments to the Transit Bylaw. City Council approved changes to Transit Bylaw 4M81, giving peace officers more tools to address unsafe behavior. These amendments aim to improve safety for riders, operators and staff.

Systems modernization. Upgraded technology and improved data sharing support safety solutions such as platform monitoring, proactive dispatching and faster response times. Work is underway to align Calgary 9-1-1 dispatch services to ensure appropriate responses.

Station infrastructure improvements. Enhanced cleaning, infrastructure design and community programming are being implemented using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. These improvements create safer, more welcoming transit stations.

Community Outreach Team expansion. Calgary Transit’s Community Outreach Team (COT), a partnership with Calgary Alpha House, tripled its uniformed members from four to 12 in 2024. The team conducted 4,811 meaningful client interactions, helped 29 individuals secure housing and collaborated with 35 agencies to connect clients to services.
This proactive approach supports individuals in need, reduces strain on emergency services and enhances public safety.

Results to date. Progress in integrated response, community partnerships, staff support and infrastructure improvements has already led to increased feelings of safety among transit users.