By Corinne Murdock |

Phoenix residents are petitioning the Phoenix City Council to improve security on the city’s light rail, claiming the transportation remains far too dangerous.

The state of the light rail was once again the focus of the council in a Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee meeting last month. 

Dangers of the light rail contributed to the defeat of the city’s plan to landlock the State Capitol.

Jessica Mefford-Miller, Valley Metro CEO, reviewed their light rail security. Mefford-Miller reported that their private security does face limitations: only 75 percent of their scheduled shifts were filled, or 80-85 security officers out of the 110 needed; they only have 87 percent fare compliance; and they can’t issue citations to those riders who refuse to provide ID unless police are present. Each shift only has nine law enforcement members: one sergeant, four officers, and four police assistants. 

Mefford-Miller noted that they would be expanding their police presence on stations and trains in the future. However, challenges to Mefford-Miller’s presentation revealed that the actual presence of security was lower.

Councilman Jim Waring questioned how many security personnel a rider could expect to encounter on the light rail. Mefford-Miller said only “about a third” of trains have personnel on them at any given time. 

Waring further disclosed that multiple constituents had complained of seeing “vomit everywhere” and “people [that] were acting crazy.” 

“I got tired of hearing too many constituents call and say, ‘Wow, I rode that one time. Never doing that again.’ It’s too expensive and too ungodly inefficient to justify anything we’ve spent, but now that it exists, you know, at least we shouldn’t be chasing away our customers,” said Waring.

Waring said he was “curious” with Mefford-Miller’s reference to homeless riders that were, “presumably, not paying.” He said her messaging was “unsound.”

“Those aren’t actually customers. They’re chasing away people who might actually be customers,” said Waring. “You’re not a customer if you didn’t pay. Then you’re stealing services from the people who did pay, and I guess asking the rest of us to subsidize it. And, if you’re harassing people who did pay, and making them never use it again, leaving more cost to be picked up by taxpayers who never use it.” 

Mefford-Miller rejected Waring’s claim that riders were at significant risk of witnessing an incident or sustaining a personal attack. She said that “most” of the assaults on passengers in the Phoenix area were between two individuals known to each other, not strangers.

However, Waring rebutted that even the fact that so many fights were breaking out at all was cause for concern.

“To say, ‘Well, they’re attacking each other, so you’ll be perfectly fine.’ Well, okay, I’m not sure I’m going to be using that mode of transportation again,” said Waring. “The idea that this is great for everybody, this is not the feedback I’m getting.”

Valley Metro sustained over 575,100 incidents from January to July of this year across Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe. Those incidents consisted of nearly 24,600 removals, nearly 300 trespasses, over 100 assaults on passengers, over 30 assaults on security, and over 400 citations issued.

During that same time period, police reported over 3,500 criminal investigative reports, and over 1,100 transit unit arrests for drugs, criminal damage, and assaults. 

Waring further shared that his and other councilmembers’ constituents have endured waves of criminals obtaining transport to their areas, where before the light rail they couldn’t.

Councilman Kevin Robinson responded that the 12 Arizona State University (ASU) students in his class reported enjoying the light rail and felt safe. Robinson said he would try riding the light rail himself to gain his own perspective on it.

Public comment was overwhelmingly negative.

Jeff Spellman with the Violence Impact Project Coalition said that light rail security has been a “disaster” for years, despite consistent constituent complaints. 

Shannon McBride with North Mountain Village Planning Committee said that all but one from over 300 respondents to a survey of those living near the light rail described the light rail as very unsafe.

Darlene Vallo, with the 19th Avenue Community Safety Plan and Phoenix Block Watch Advisory Board, reported observing drug deals, individuals high on drugs, individuals drinking alcohol, fights taking place on the light rail, and individuals taking baths in the public water fountain daily along her neighborhood patrols near the light rail. 

Despite Mefford-Miller claiming that Valley Metro upholds a “See Something, Say Something” program, Vallo reported that Valley Metro employees have dismissed her reports of criminal activity on light rail property.

Councilwoman Betty Guardado expressed concerns with how much it would cost to add more police to Valley Metro. Guardado also expressed concerns with the impact that fully staffing the transit with law enforcement would have on the current police shortage. The councilwoman indicated that Valley Metro should make do with their current resources.

“Is it worth it at the end of the day?” asked Guardado. “Is it going to be cost efficient?”

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.