WeGo adding major safety changes with hopes to increase ridership

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A first of its kind partnership between the Metro Nashville Police Department and WeGo Public Transit is adding new safety measures to the city’s bus system.

Nashville now has a transit safety liaison that will work to coordinate between the two agencies. Mayor Freddie O’Connell said this position could lead to a dedicated transit police unit in the future.

These changes are being made using money from the Choose How You Move transit referendum that passed the ballot in November.

WeGo also incorporated recommendations from its 14-month long security study that just concluded, including a major increase in security staffing.

Under the proposed $6.3 million contract with a new security company, WeGo would increase from 800 to 1,200 staffed security hours per week.

In addition to patrolling the downtown WeGo Central Station and other transit hubs, security officers will start patrolling on buses and different bus stations across the bus system.

“We’ve seen evidence here and in other cities that the simple presence of somebody that is offering any level of security and safety helps deter crime,” O’Connell said. “When you have people present on vehicles and at bus stops, we’re just going to be sending a signal across the city that this entire system is intended to be safe.”

O’Connell said he’s hopeful the added security will make more people feel comfortable riding the bus to increase ridership.

WeGo Chief Safety and Security Officer Nick Oldham said they are going to be using new data to track ridership and crime trends. That will be used to set patrols focused on the busiest times and locations to protect staff and riders.

Metro Police Deputy Chief Tommy Widener said the additional security and possible transit police unit would take the strain off the Central Precinct officers who are currently dealing with WeGo issues and other emergency calls, like how the Entertainment District patrols helped handle Broadway incidents.

“Public safety is a challenge in and of itself,” Widener said. “I think as the city grows, we know transit has to grow commiserate with that.”

Police transit liaison Captain Brian Williams will start in his position on March 1. The new WeGo security contract starts in April, but the new company, Archangel Protective Services, is already working to learn the bus system to ensure there is a smooth transition.

Bus passengers like Anthony Rice said they have been calling for increased security for years and are hopeful these changes will stop more violent situations on buses and at bus stations.

“It’s a real scary feeling and I just hope that they can do better with their service,” Rice said. “Get more security. Just try to be more safe when you ride the bus because anything can happen because a lot of people ride the bus. Homeless people ride the bus. They may have a gun; they may get mad and start shooting up everything. It’s all about safety.”