More safety measures coming to Thunder Bay Transit buses this year, manager says

A new report shows the overall number of safety-related incidents on Thunder Bay Transit buses have dropped over the past three years, but concerns remain, city's transit manager says.

The report, which is being presented to city council for information on Monday, shows there were a total of 275 safety-related incidents and/or negative interactions, reported by transit operators in 2022.

That dropped to 146 in 2023, and 128 in 2024. However the report notes, the numbers pertain to incidents that were reported by operators, and more may have gone unreported.

"The data does show that while there's been progress made on reducing some negative interactions — such as things like fare disputes — things like acts of aggression, assaults, verbal altercations, negative interactions that fit into those categories remain top of mind as ongoing concerns," said Brad Loroff, city transit manager. "So we want to use Monday night as an opportunity to just talk about some of the key initiatives that we'll be focusing on throughout 2025, to seek some improvement in those areas."

The report shows that in 2022, operators reported:

• 40 acts of aggression;
• 16 assaults;
• 47 fare disputes;
• 46 incidents of harassment;
• 80 involving intoxication, and
• 46 verbal altercations.

Meanwhile, in 2023, operators reported:

• 26 acts of aggression;
• nine assaults;
• 28 fare disputes;
• seven incidents involving harassment;
• 30 incidents involving intoxication, and 
• 46 verbal altercations.

In 2024, acts of aggression rose to 38, while the number of assaults returned to 2022 levels, with 16 reported.

There were only 10 fare disputes, two incidents of harassment, and 18 involving intoxication reported last year.

The number of verbal altercations dropped slightly in 2024, to 44.

One factor in the drop, Loroff said, is de-escalation training provided to all transit staff in 2024.

"The purpose of that training is to equip frontline staff with the skill set and some of the tools they can use to help better manage passenger public interactions that have the potential to become contentious," he said.

And 2025 will see more steps taken to increase safety on city transit buses, Loroff said, including more training for frontline staff.

"We've made some modifications to our operations section, where we'll be able to provide better and more-enhanced dispatching for buses, as well as some on-street supervision," he said. "We're providing more dedicated support in those areas."

New operator safety shields are also coming to city buses, he said; currently, buses are equipped with thin plastic shields, which were installed to project drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"They're being replaced with permanent, engineered safety security barriers to provide some coverage and protection around the operator's compartment," Loroff said.

The report states the shields have been ordered, and are expected to be installed by the end of 2025.

Fred Caputo, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966, which represents transit staff in Thunder Bay, said the union is happy to see the new safety measures being put in place.

In an email to CBC News, Caputo noted that a new fare box management system being introduced on city buses will also help, as it will "reduce fare evasion and operator passenger interaction."

"As always we will continue to work with transit management to make transit safe for all users," Caputo stated.

Transit tap cards now available

Thunder Bay Transit also announced Wednesday the new electronic smart cards, which can be used to pay for bus fare, are now available.

The reloadable card, called Lift Pass, can be loaded with day passes, 10-ride multipasses, or monthly passes, and passengers can tap the cards on the farebox to pay for their ride.

Anyone who wants to get their Lift Pass cards can do so at the Thunder Bay Transit Office at 870 Fort William Road (the city says it will announce more locations where the cards can be purchased in the coming weeks).

While it will normally cost $5 to purchase a new reloadable Lift Pass card, the city is waiving that fee until April 30 to encourage passengers to get the cards early.

Cash, paper tickets, and traditional monthly passes can still be used to pay for bus fare, the city says.

For more information, visit the city's Lift Pass website.