Calgary Transit To Audit Safety

A safety audit will be conducted on the city's transit system after several aldermen raised concerns about crime and safety on and along the C-Train.

The move, which comes after several incidents of women being attacked near the LRT stations, was passed unanimously Monday by city council.

Ald. Druh Farrell, who brought forward the motion with Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart, said women are starting to feel unsafe riding the C-Train.

"Women's perception of personal safety is different," she said. "Women are our customers. We need to listen to women."

Farrell added that the LRT is becoming a "warming station for vagrants."

Other aldermen agreed, with some suggesting the city needs to consider installing turnstiles at the stations and installing video cameras at the park-and-ride lots.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier said many of the issues come with becoming a bigger city, suggesting Calgary's transit system is maintained and run well by its employees.

"They are doing a good job, they are just really well used," he said. "We do need to always be diligent about public safety."

There have been recent incidents of women being attacked near LRT stations, including one last Friday when a woman was found dead near a southeast C-Train station.

Police have said the crime scene across from Franklin station showed signs of violence, although the death has not yet been declared a homicide.

cderworiz@theherald.canwest.com