Crime continues to escalate in neighborhoods surrounding the 19th Avenue light rail. Neighbors in the RV and mobile home park have stated that the light rail draws people who use drugs and harass residents almost every day. The Dunlap station is the last stop on the Phoenix rail line, and will remain the end of the line until 2026 according to Phoenix officials. The 19th Avenue line is one of the busiest rail lines, and according to neighborhoodscout.com, it is one of the high crime areas in Phoenix.
The Metro has also had issues on board with homeless people riding without paying and making passengers feel uneasy. The underlying issue with the surrounding crime is the absent amount of Transit Enforcement Unit (TEU) officers. The TEU is responsible for more than 20 miles of railway lines and oversees security while riders are on board. Currently, the unit is made up of 1 Lieutenant, 6 Sergeants, 19 sworn officers, 23 police assistants, and 24 municipal guards.
Neighbors and businesses around this busy area have reported that crime continues from the rail system into their properties. Business owners are finding trash, soiled clothes, and sometimes people who have collapsed into the property. Recently, a neighborhood committee met with officials from the local police agency and Valley Metro Safety. If the board approves an increase in officers, second shift and codes of conduct will be implemented. New signs will also be added that detail a code of conduct and a passenger bill of rights.
Thankfully, a recent Transit 2050 tax was extended to allow funding for officers to patrol the surrounding areas 4-5 days per week. With the addition of TEU officers and multiple changes in signage. The light rail system should be safer for surrounding neighborhoods and passengers alike.
