Metro Transit is earmarking funds intended for increased safety and cleanliness on board buses and light-rail trains, officials said Wednesday.

Though a recent homicide in St. Paul on a Green Line train remains under investigation, reported crimes are down year-over-year and ridership is up, according to Metro Transit.

The Metropolitan Council, of which Metro Transit is a service, is scheduled to adopt a 2025 operating budget later Wednesday that includes funding to grow a new program that includes fare inspections, expand the use of supplemental security officers, partner with community-based organizations, and bring on more police officers and community service officers.

Green Line focus

The work includes a focus on the Green Line corridor. “Safety ambassadors” from the St. Paul Downtown Alliance will regularly spend time at downtown St. Paul light rail stations and adjacent bus stops beginning in January, according to Metro Transit.

“Safety ambassadors address antisocial behaviors — acting as another set of eyes for public safety professionals — while cleaning up trash and graffiti and assisting visitors with wayfinding,” Metro Transit said in a Wednesday statement. The Met Council will be voting on designating $800,000 toward the effort.

Metro Transit has also partnered with the Listening House of St. Paul, a daytime drop-in shelter that has a pilot program that connects Ramsey County residents who are unsheltered with work. People in the Listening House program are regularly cleaning Green Line stations and bus stops.

Police for Metro Transit are also increasing their presence along the Green Line.

Other initiatives

Next year’s proposed budget includes $10.75 million for contracted supplemental security services and up to $750,000 to partner with organizations focused on issues such as substance abuse disorders, mental health and housing.

Metro Transit began the Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) in late February — personnel inspect fares and issue administrative citations for non-payment, along with offering information about routes and schedules to riders. Between TRIP agents and community service officers, they’ve inspected 459,000 fares, double the number compared to last year, according to Metro Transit.

The citations are handled by Metro Transit outside the courts, a change from the previous approach of having Metro Transit police officers issue misdemeanor citations for fare non-payment.

There are nearly 60 TRIP agents and Metro Transit’s goal is to have up to 100 by the end of next year.

The proposed budget also includes funding for more maintenance staff focused on cleaning and maintaining stations, vehicles and track areas.

“We continue to act with urgency to provide the kind of experience our riders and staff deserve, investing in efforts that are working while seeking new opportunities to involve new partners to expand our impact,” Metro Transit General Manager Lesley Kandaras said in a statement.

Homicide was first on board a light rail train

The Nov. 29 shooting of Sharif Darryl Walker-El Jr. on a Green Line train as it approached the Hamline Avenue station in St. Paul was the first homicide on-board a light rail train since the Blue Line started 20 years ago and the Green Line 10 years ago, according to Metro Transit. There have been some homicides at stations.

Metro Transit police continue to investigate the killing of Walker-El, 33, and no one has been arrested.

The public safety initiatives announced Wednesday were planned before the fatal shooting, a Metro Transit spokesman said.

In the first three quarters of this year, crime reports were down 8.4 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Metro Transit.

Metro Transit provided more than 40.1 million rides this year through the end of October, up 7 percent from the same time last year. Average weekday ridership is hovering between 140,000-150,000, which is about 60% of pre-COVID pandemic ridership.

Green Line ridership was up 13 percent year-over-year, as of the end of October.

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