Some 350 reports of “less than optimal conditions” at light rail stations in the first two months of the year have the Regional Transportation District trying out a new security procedure to make customers feel safer in three of its high-use rail stations that have elevators.
“The elevator doors at Nine Mile, Colorado and Southmoor stations will remain open until a destination floor is selected, close before the elevator is in motion, and remain open at all other times,” according to a release from RTD.
“Every month, RTD receives hundreds of calls for service and customer complaints related to unwanted and illegal activities taking place inside our elevators,” said Dr. Joel Fitzgerald Sr., Chief of Police and Emergency Management. “These activities not only impede customer access to RTD’s services but also obstruct our efforts to create a welcoming transit environment. Setting elevators to a default open status dissuades usage to anything other than what is intended.”
Officials provided no specifics about the complaints, or "less than optimal" conditions. But there were many instances of illegal drug use in the RTD downtown bus station bathrooms before improvements there.
While platforms and elevators have video surveillance cameras, RTD officials said having elevator doors open except when in use will improve customer comfort and safety.
The 90-day pilot program, which began Saturday, will address “long-standing complaints from customers” about illegal activities.
Data gathered during the program will be used to see if there is “a reduction in calls and incidents reported, a decline in vandalism and damage to the elevators, and a decrease in customer complaints about cleanliness.”
The program will run through mid-June, and RTD will collect data on “calls for service, customer comments, and reports of unwanted activities occurring in and around the elevators included in the pilot.”
The data will be used to see if the program should become permanent and/or be expanded to other stations.
RTD’s Crime Prevention through Environmental Design programs have upgraded security equipment and facilities to deter crime and improve customer satisfaction and includes upgrading lighting, adding TV monitors that display security feeds and installing smoke detectors in public restrooms systemwide.
“Since January 2022, RTD has had a laser focus on creating a welcoming transit environment that yields a pleasant and seamless customer experience,” said Debra A. Johnson, RTD general manager and CEO in a news release. “I am confident that this pilot program will provide customers with a greater sense of personal safety and security, knowing that the agency’s infrastructure is being used for its intended purpose.”
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