Close the stations? Some CTrain riders argue Victoria Park/Stampede reno shows better path forward

With only one way on or off the platform at the Stampede/Victoria Park CTrain station, transit rider Jen Hall used to worry she'd be trapped if a fight or worse broke out.

This station is now being renovated. But Chinook, Marlborough, the Zoo and many other CTrain platforms have a similar design issue. It's one of several physical elements that's making passengers feel less safe on the train, according to text messages to CBC Calgary.

Hall works at a downtown law firm and met up with CBC Calgary at the construction site recently.

"There were definitely occasions where you hear yelling or arguments, and that's where I started thinking about in a worst case scenario: What are my options? Where am I? What can I do?" said Hall.

"I am often travelling alone and I'm not an athlete by any means so, if need be, where are my exits?"

Hall believes in transit. She "ditched" her car a couple of years ago and is still taking the train or bus everywhere she needs to go. But she's much happier now that local renovations are progressing.

Mirrors, convenience stores, washrooms

In the hundreds of text messages sent in for CBC Calgary's transit safety project, the most common solution CTrain riders put forward is for Calgary to close off the platforms with turnstiles or gates — an option city council asked Calgary Transit to study this fall. 

But that's not the only physical design option to make stations feel safer, say other passengers and experts.

Some suggestions from Calgary residents include more mirrors and better lighting to make the sightlines better; others said they want the city to ensure there are multiple places to enter and exit, like at the new Stampede station. Still others want Calgary to bring back convenience stores, public washrooms, buskers or even community gardens and other features to enliven the space. 

Those last examples are all part of a different approach to public safety, says Francisco Alaniz Uribe, assistant professor at the University of Calgary's school of architecture.

"Stations that are really successful, they have multiple uses next to them and there's lots of people traffic. All of that creates more of a community environment, a safer environment," he said.

'Integrated with the rest of the street'

For example, jump over to Sunnyside station, a CTrain stop in the inner city just north of the Bow River. He says that kind of public openness and vibrancy is already happening on a small scale.

"We have the grocery store right next door, maybe not the best alignment of design but there's a grocery store, there are two coffee shops within 100 metres, there's an empty lot with community gardens and an alternative event space nearby," he said.

"That could continue into a future design."

The professor says the Stampede Park station is doing some of these things with its redesign. 

"It is very much integrated with the rest of the street, and that is better when it comes to the perception [of safety] and perhaps also the prevention of crime," he said.

"Even if nobody else is on the platform, you don't feel by yourself."

Calgary Transit has a wide variety of stations built across the city. Some are integrated into neighbourhoods while others are surrounded by parking lots. 

Calgary residents texting CBC Calgary said that, in many cases, rather than having services connected to the station, riders have to hike around big box stores to get to the entrance, like for those heading to the Superstore at McKnight/Westwinds.

And even relatively new stations such as Sunalta, and recently renovated stations such as Chinook, have only one entrance/exit to the platform.

Calgary Transit didn't have anyone available to speak to station architecture and safety. A spokesperson said security teams consider sightlines and safety features daily, and designers look at those principles whenever renovating or designing new stations.  

Integrated design

The Stampede Park redesign is being handled by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation because it's integrated into the expanded BMO convention centre and the East Village downtown.

It's scheduled to be completed by next year with a price tag of $60 million.

Kate Thompson, chief executive at CMLC, said the goal is to open the station so it really feels part of the surroundings and all the activity in the new development. 

"So if there is a busker or there is a new gate for Stampede at that location or a concert pop-up — anything that happens there that can all be happening on a much bigger area than would be traditionally applied to just a platform."

So far, they've demolished the Plus-15, spiral ramp and staircase on the west side of Macleod Trail and the double staircase on the east side of the tracks that was sandwiched between barbed wire fencing. 

And in October, two new pedestrian routes opened, allowing for pedestrian traffic in the area for the first time in 40 years and access to the train from both ends of the platform and both sides of the street.

'Open, easy to access and safer'

Taking CBC Calgary on a tour of Stampede station, Hall says she's already starting to feel that space is more alive and secure since the new pedestrian access points were added to the platform in October.

She pointed out the clear line of sight she has now when approaching the platform as something that puts her at ease. 

"There's another opportunity to get somewhere safe if something's going on on the platform," she said. 

"I feel like it might extend the times I feel comfortable on the platform. Before, I'd look at the clock and go, 'OK, I think I might take a cab home instead of the train' … now it feels open, easy to access and safer."

Transit safety

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