Survey shows strong support for visible peace officers on Calgary Transit
Posted Jul 13, 2026 4:13 pm.
A new city survey suggests Calgarians are mostly welcoming of a pilot project that places transit peace officers at CTrain stations during peak hours.
The pilot, launched earlier this year, is based on incident data and assigns peace officers to 10 stations between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Early results show more than 70 per cent of Calgarians say the added presence makes them feel more comfortable using transit during those hours.
Several riders told CityNews the change is noticeable.
“I have found it has been a lot more transit‑only users rather than a bunch of people just hanging out,” one rider said.
“I think it’s great. I think it will curtail some of the unsafety,” said another rider.
City council approved $9 million for the pilot in December. While councillors say improved perceptions of safety are encouraging, some argue the issues riders see on transit reflect deeper social problems.
Ward 7 Coun. Myke Atkinson said long‑term solutions must address the root causes of disorder.
“Thins that we are looking at is poverty reduction, getting people housed, making sure we are dealing with safety and support on the ground, early intervention,” Atkinson said.
Some riders echoed that view, noting that behaviour on transit often reflects broader challenges.
“Depending on the scenario, why people are acting the way they are acting and what resources we can branch out to help those individuals,” one rider said.
Alex Williams, chair of Calgary Transit Riders, said many vulnerable people rely on stations as safe spaces.
“Frankly, if I were living on our streets I would also go to train stations,” Williams said. “There are cameras, it’s warm in the winter, and I can go places that way.
“I think having a broader safety strategy rather than these band‑aid solutions is critical to success beyond this pilot.”
City staff are expected to deliver a more detailed update on the pilot later this year.
