Rider's Almanac Blog

Guided by our Safety & Security Action Plan, we've spent the past four years advancing more than 40 actions aimed at meaningfully improving conditions on our system, strengthening connections with riders and partners, and supporting transit workers.  

These efforts are making an impact. For example:   

• In recent surveys, both customers and operators reported feeling safer than they did the previous year. Customers also found vehicles and stations to be cleaner and reported seeing less drug use.    

• The number of what we consider to be the most serious crimes occurring on transit continues to fall.   

• Either Metro Transit police officers, Community Service Officers, or TRIP agents are now present on more than 40% of all light rail trips, a sign of steady growth in all these important areas. 

• The number of customer complaints fell by more than 27% between 2024 and 2025 and is on pace to do so again this year.   

“Because of the hard work of all of Metro Transit’s layers of presence, serious crime remains low on the Metro Transit system,” said Metro Transit Police Department Chief Joe Dotseth. “However, no level of criminality on our system is acceptable, which is why we continue to focus on being highly visible on the system. In addition to deterring serious crime, we are dedicated to lowering offenses like smoking and property damage, and providing outreach to those better served by social services than criminal penalties.” 

In Quarter 1 2026, proactive police calls for police service, a measure of how active police are on the system, increased by 45% compared to the same time period in 2025. Crimes addressed due to proactive patrolling increased by 16% and police boardings of transit vehicles increased by 210%.  

Coordinated layers of presence continue to build  

A growing number of Community Service Officers (CSOs), Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) agents, and supplemental security officers are also present across the system. Highlights from these layers of official presence include:   

• MTPD now has around 120 police officers and 40 CSOs, the most CSOs in department history. CSOs are students who work part-time at Metro Transit while earning their law enforcement degrees; many go on to become police officers, a promising sign for future department growth.   

• In late-2025, an expanded supplemental security contract brought security officers to 15 locations up to 24 hours a day. Security officers monitor conditions at stations and ensure people are observing rules for riding while on transit property.   

• More than 135 TRIP Agents now ride light rail and bus rapid transit lines to inspect fares and uphold the rules for riding. Together, they’ve inspected nearly 2.5 million fares since the program began in February 2024.      

The agency continues to partner with the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, whose Safety Ambassadors are at downtown St. Paul light rail stations, and is exploring a similar partnership in Minneapolis.   

A multi-faceted approach to public safety 

Growing the official presence on transit is a cornerstone of the Safety & Security Action Plan that has guided public safety efforts since 2022.   

To review all the latest updates, view the Quarter 1 2026 progress report. And, as always, if you have ideas about other steps we can take, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or attending a community meeting or listening session.      

Join the team that's making a difference   

Metro Transit and the Metro Transit Police Department are filling a number of positions that have a hand in improving public safety. Review current openings and apply here.