The City of Phoenix is spending $600,000 to beef up security on its stretch of the light rail route.
"We want to make sure that our customer experience is a positive one," said Albert Santana, the city’s Director of High Capacity Transit.
The measure was approved by city council Wednesday night and will be used to purchase 16 new bikes for transit officers and fund additional patrols. While officers will patrol all station platforms and trains in the city, there will be a special focus on areas like 19th Avenue where passengers report problems, Santana said.
ABC15 spoke with several riders in that area.
Jaimie Potts says she’s seen “brutal fights” that have caused the train to stop as police investigate. She and others say they frequently see riders drinking, smoking and acting aggressively on board.
She hopes the changes will bring “less violence, less smells and less attention.”
