Extensive Halifax Transit safety plan needed to combat escalating aggression
HALIFAX, N.S. — It’s record-breaking but in a bad way.
So far this year (from Jan. 1, 2023, to Oct. 31, 2023) the number of calls for service regarding aggressive behaviour on transit or at terminals have already blown past every year previous.
“We’re averaging about 250 calls per month and we expect a total of 3,100 by the end of the year,” Philip Herritt, director of transit operations, told the Transportation Standing Committee on Thursday.
These calls include assaults, disruptions to service and fare disputes among others.
Earlier this month, police were called to reports of a machete attack at the Dartmouth bus terminal and in September, police investigated an assault after racial slurs were said on a Halifax Transit bus, just to name a few.
The Bridge, Mumford, Lacewood and Scotia Square terminals are where most incidents are happening, Herritt said. Halifax Transit has launched an education program with a number of ads that say “I deserve to feel safe at work.”
To show the increase in aggressive incidents, in 2018, Halifax Transit was handling 96 incidents per month but this year that average is 248 a month. From May 1-Sept. 20 there were 258 verbal and 75 physical assaults, 22 weapon threats, and 138 incidents that involved police.
Extensive transit safety plan
This trend — which is happening nationwide — is a reason why HRM staff are proposing an extensive transit safety plan. The transportation committee endorsed it on Thursday.
This safety plan follows a transit safety bylaw (T-1200) that went into effect in October.
This “high-level” safety plan would take about 20 months to develop with extensive consultation.
And it will come with a hiring spree.
HRM staff estimate it will cost $270,000 for salaries and benefits for three positions during the initiation phase and more than $2 million for 28 positions in the execution phase (safety officers, security monitors and supervisors).
Expecting a “whopping tax increase” this year (details to be made public on Friday), Coun. Tim Outhit (Bedford – Wentworth) said he’s cautious about financial commitments.
“My worry is that we’ve had some really great strategies to try to improve this unacceptable situation … a strategy is great but you’ve got to get down to the tactics and the tactics are really what’s going to make the difference on this,” he said.
It’s just something HRM needs to do, said Coun. Waye Mason (Halifax South Downtown).
“It’s going to cost money … but I see this as the cost of gas went up and we need to pay for it,” he said.
“Obviously we have to do it — our employees have to be safe. To me, this is inevitable as the sun coming up, and we’re going to have to find a way to pay for it.”
Transit operators need more protection
In an interview on Thursday, Ray MacKenzie, vice president with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508, said it’s great that Halifax Transit is currently installing shields for drivers but they need more protection.
“Since the pandemic, assaults have been up and we do need our protection out there,” he said.
“We definitely need the ability to internally be able to remove people and ban them off the buses and properly fine them.
“We just want to go to work and go home safe.”
A big issue for passengers
Transit safety is a big deal for residents too, said Coun. Shawn Cleary (Halifax West Armdale).
“It seems like the last three years, things have just gotten kind of crazy. It is one of the number one complaints I get now — I have Mumford Terminal in my district.”
Cleary said he’s heard from several people — young women in particular — who say they don’t go there anymore because they don’t feel safe.
“I think this is a good proactive approach and I think we have been complacent and very lucky.”
A request to get started on the plan will be up for a vote at Halifax Regional Council.
