Long-Term Safety Planning

A Comprehensive Study and Plan to Improve Transit Safety

Parametrix assisted ABQ RIDE in the preparation of an extensive study and plan that analyzed current transit safety practices and nationwide challenges, along with an implementation plan intended to address public security and safety issues on buses and at transit stations, bus stops, park-and-ride lots, and nearby areas. The study was advanced in response to an increased number of safety and security incidents and under direction provided by the Albuquerque City Council and City Administration.

Read the Plan

Safety Plan Objectives

1) assess safety and security challenges currently facing ABQ RIDE;

2) identify administrative, financial, operational, and tactical actions and solutions to address the problems affecting safety and security;

3) develop a strategic plan for implementation.

Study Approach

• Review and analysis of data maintained by current security and enforcement teams. The data includes covers several thousand incidents involving transit since 2022.
• Interviews with transit staff to obtain firsthand knowledge of the types, frequency, and severity of incidents experienced by drivers, facility maintenance teams, and other department personnel.
• Interviews with current security and enforcement teams including APD, Metro Security, Albuquerque Community Services, and ABQ RIDE security teams.
• Public outreach to obtain input from transit users, businesses near major stations, and neighborhoods along routes with a high number of incidents.
• Review and evaluation of current policies and procedures, and their effectiveness, to identify gaps in the current approach to transit security.
• Review of security plans being used by transit departments in other US cities and review of literature specific to transit security strategies.
• Preparation of a report that summarizes findings, gaps, and potential solutions. The report will also include a draft plan for implementation including security tactics, training needs, budget, and potential legislative needs.

Study & Implementation Timeline

• In February 2023, the Albuquerque City Council adopted bill F/S (3) O-22-47 that requested ABQ RIDE prepare a study to address security affecting the transit system
• The short-term strategy was completed in March 2023 by a cooperative effort involving the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), Metro Security Division (MSD), Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS), and ABQ RIDE
• ABQ RIDE initiated the next step to meet the directive of F/S (3) O-22-47 by preparing this long-range security plan
• The final report and plan was completed in December 2024 with a targeted implementation of Spring 2025