Safety fears prompt review of Calgary transit

Calgary city council has approved a safety audit of the transit system four days after a woman's body was found near the Franklin LRT station.

Policeconfirmed Tuesdaythat Arcelie Laoagan, 41, was killed but did not release the cause of death because of investigative reasons.

On Monday, city council unanimously supported a comprehensive safety review to begin later this year that will examine whether current safety measures work.

Aldermen Druh Farrell and Diane Colley-Urquhart said they have been flooded with e-mails from people, especially women, saying they'reafraid to use transit.

Farrell told council she was riding the C-Train once when she witnessed a woman harassed by five men she called thugs.

"Somebody pressed the [emergency] help button; the train stopped. And I felt like I was stuck in an elevator with a robber and someone had just punched the stop button. I felt trapped," said Farrell.

"We have to take back the trains. We have to take back the streets and it's not just in the core," said Colley-Urquhart.

Others complained of freeloaders riding the trains, unsafe parking lots, dirty buses and filthy stations.

Ald. Joe Connelly called the C-Train Canada's largest mobile homeless shelter, but Mayor Dave Bronconniersaid transit is "very safe."