WeGo leaders detail transit safety measures in wake of recent violent incidents
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Leaders behind WeGo Public Transit are addressing safety concerns after two recent incidents in Nashville, one of them happening on a bus.
On Thursday, May 23, top leaders of the transit system, including CEO Steve Bland, called a press conference and met to discuss safety measures in place and to reassure passengers that riding the bus is safe. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell wants voters to support a sales tax increase this November for a new transit plan, and a big part of that is bus service.
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The meeting comes after a bus operator was attacked by a person with a knife on Monday, May 20. That incident follows another incident last week on Thursday, May 16 where two people got into an argument and one of them ended up shot and injured on the steps of WeGo Central.
“I’m a regular rider on the 56 Gallatin Pike bus, the route on which this incident occurred,” said WeGo CEO Steve Bland. “I know if anything occurs – doesn’t have to be a security incident; it could be something in the neighborhood – that operator can be in instant communication with base that can be in instant communication with emergency responders.”
‘Highly unusual’: WeGo officials address security after 2 violent crimes within 4 days
According to the numbers presented at Thursday’s meeting, WeGo has increased spending on
contracted security services from 1.2 to 2.4 million from 2017 to 2024 and expect to invest more. Each bus is also outfitted with three to 16 cameras and there are plans to give them real-time capabilities so emergency responses can be quicker.
Despite the recent incidents, News 2 spoke with some riders who said they are not deterred from taking the bus.
Man claims self defense after WeGo bus station shooting
“It’s times when people do get on the bus, and you can tell that they’re not in their right mind and they do do crazy things” said Mark Naice, who rides the bus daily. “Things can happen anywhere. You could be anywhere in public, and something can happen. I don’t really think the bus is something people should be concerned about. People are going to act the way they act anywhere you go.”
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WeGo gives around 30,000 rides each day and WeGo Central sees roughly 15,000 visitors daily.
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