Valley Metro has put new safety precautions in place in response to Arizona State University students' increased concern for their safety and reduce their fear of riding the light rail
The light rail stretches 26 miles across Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. The public transit system launched on December 27, 2008, and while it has been effective for many people, there is a stigma around the light rail being unsafe, especially for students, who often rely on the train to get to and from the Tempe campus and downtown Phoenix.
Many students said they don't have any other transportation options because they do not have a car or it is too expensive to pay for parking.
"To be completely honest, I never ride the light rail because I have not once felt safe riding it," said Caroline Linch, an ASU student who lives in Tempe, but attends classes on the downtown campus. "Not only have I heard several incidents happening to other people, but I have also had my fair share of uncomfortable situations on the light rail myself. Sometimes, riding it is inevitable, as it is cheaper than most any other transportation."
Valley Metro has put new safety precautions into action in order to increase safety and reduce the fear of riding the light rail.
A precaution that Valley Metro has carried out is their "Respect the Ride" program. Chris Glover, Valley Metro Rail board chair and city of Mesa councilmember, shares the objective of this program on the Valley Metro website.
"This code of conduct is focused on creating a safe and positive rider experience, while also discouraging disruptive, intrusive, unsafe or inappropriate behaviors in a public setting," said Glover. "Put simply, this new tool will allow us to crack down on bad behavior and enhance the rider experience."
Another solution that Valley Metro has created is a smartphone app called AlertVM Rail.
The free safety app gives riders the ability to report activity that could be harmful to the public without making a phone call and having someone potentially hear them, which could put them in danger.
"The purpose of AlertVM is to connect our riders to a real-time application. This safety and security app is designed to give our riders peace of mind that there is a real live person responding to their request and they should get a response within a reasonable amount of time for non-emergencies," said Adrian Ruiz, director of Safety, Security and Quality Assurance for Valley Metro.
The app's real-time feature allows experts to get there in a timely fashion to respond to the possible safety threat.
"I would feel a lot safer just because the light rail goes to and from the city. I think having a safety app would be very beneficial for young college students traveling to and from the city," said Cristian Musterait, an ASU student.
The light rail also has a security team that monitors and rides the light rail to ensure safety. Also, each light rail car has six safety buttons riders can press to alert security personnel.
In addition to the resources Valley Metro provides for light rail, there also are certain precautions that riders themselves can take, according to Ruiz.
"Unplug and tune in. Pay attention to your surroundings. You should pay attention to your surroundings anywhere you go. There will not always be that guardian angel on your shoulder to remind you. So anywhere you go, pay attention. Your personal safety starts with you," Ruiz said.
In the case of an urgent emergency, riders can also call 911 through the AlertVM app.
