More MAX violence proves more safety needed now

The Times, Dec 6, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

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Another violent incident along the MAX line last week graphically demonstrates that initial discussions regarding light-rail safety need to be greatly accelerated.

A stabbing in East Multnomah County on a MAX platform Nov. 29 was the second act of violence involving train passengers in a month and adds to a growing sense of public unease over MAX safety.

Preventing such attacks and other transit-related crime has been the focus of two TriMet regional safety summits, including a meeting held Friday in Washington County.

The sessions brought TriMet officials together with transit riders and local city and community leaders as well as law-enforcement officials. What these initial conversations demonstrate is that there are plenty of opportunities available to increase safety for MAX riders and for neighborhoods that immediately adjoin the light-rail line. And the summits also demonstrate there are plenty of questions related to increased safety yet to be answered.

One prerequisite for transit-security progress is a new attitude from TriMet. Based on what we have observed at the summits, just such an attitude is taking hold. TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen now states clearly that improvements are needed — that the MAX system is falling short of providing a safe and comfortable environment for patrons.

That simple acknowledgment opens the door to new ideas and initiatives. Law-enforcement officers, in particular, are providing concrete suggestions for how to improve the system. Among ideas in need of immediate consideration are:

Better fare collection. This could mean closing access to some stations so that only paying customers are allowed inside. It also must mean a sustained increase in the number of fare inspectors. Portland police say 90 percent of the people committing crimes on the MAX also are fare evaders. Forcing people to pay will reduce crime.

Giving police a more immediate ability to exclude people from MAX cars when their behavior warrants such action. Currently, any riders excluded from MAX are allowed to reboard trains during a 10-day appeal period.

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