MINNEAPOLIS – The new police chief attributes the increase in ridership on Metro Transit’s light rail to several changes made on the ground.
The biggest challenge facing the LRT is overcoming the negative perception.
Ricky Greer, a passenger, said that he has always had positive experiences.
“It’s pleasant. Greer said, “I think it’s really nice.”
Robin Lund’s reality is different.
Lund stated that “people who are threatening and people who obviously are not here for commute” are the worst. “They are here to sell drugs.”
Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III said he rides the Blue Line with his wife.
The first six stops were quite comfortable. We were thrilled. We thought, “Wow, this is a great system.” Then, we hit Frankin, and then Cedar-Riverside. Then we hit Lake [Street]. Morales said, “It’s as if the floor has fallen out from underneath us.”
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Morales may have seen what WCCO did a few month ago: open drug use, and drug exchanges.
The ride on Monday was uneventful. Security was present on the train, the platform and the entrances to the stations. MSP Airport had new signage. New murals and construction were visible at the Lake Street station and Target Field.
Morales stated that if you take care of your property, and clean it up properly, others will follow.
Metro Transit’s Homeless Action Team is working to make buses and light rail safer
Transit officials claim that they did, particularly during Pride Week and Taylor Swift concerts last month. Overall, ridership has increased by 23%.
Officials say that reported crimes are also on the rise. But Chief Morales said that this is a result of more proactive police activity.
I will encourage everyone to return to the system. He said that numbers make us safer.
The chief says that his biggest challenge, despite only being in the job for four months, is recruiting. The force still lacks more than 60 officers but has much to be proud about.
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