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The City of Calgary is stepping up enforcement and security measures on public transit after seeing a spike in safety complaints during the COVID-19 pandemic.

City officials said Wednesday “social disorder” complaints on the transit system are up 27 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

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Calgary has seen a staggering drop in people riding the bus and CTrain after the response to COVID-19 became more aggressive, with all non-essential services closed, many Calgarians working from home and public health orders calling for people to stay home as much as possible.

City council heard this week that ridership across Calgary’s transit system is down by about 80 per cent. CTrain ridership has plummeted as much as 90 per cent. Bus and LRT service is now running less frequently, but the system will stay open to make sure essential service workers can get to their jobs, and people without cars can get to grocery stores or medical appointments.

At Victoria Park/Stampede, Erlton, Anderson, Heritage and Southland stops, station buildings are closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The change doesn’t affect access to trains.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the city could move to close the buildings all day if the situation doesn’t improve. There will also be more fare enforcement, especially for trains coming out of the free-fare zone in the downtown.