PHILADELPHIA - A week later, a man was stabbed on a Red Line train, and two others were shot at two separate SEPTA stations within fifteen minutes. Officials have ordered more police officers to ride trains as part of a new anti-crime campaign.
But as violent crimes spread throughout the city, some customers have become alarmed that the violence has spilled over to SEPTA's system. And it's not the first time aggravated assaults, robberies, and murders have happened on SEPTA trains in recent years. The trend is widespread, with Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, New York, Seattle, and Miami reporting similar numbers of transit-related severe crimes in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019.
SEPTA has tried many tactics over the years to deter crime on its buses, trains, and other facilities, but some haven't worked, according to riders.
As crime rates climb, cities try changing how they approach public safety, focusing less on policing and programs designed to connect riders with services. Known as "Safety for All," the initiatives often include hiring unarmed outreach specialists and high-profile anti-harassment campaigns.
But the problem is that it's hard to know if these strategies are working, especially in cities like Philadelphia, where the influx of homeless and mentally ill individuals has increased violence.
