Safer Stations, More Riders: How St. Louis Cut Transit Crime by 50%

Safer Stations, More Riders: How St. Louis Cut Transit Crime by 50%

From Transit Unplugged by Paul Comfort, SVP Modaxo

March 11, 2026 · 29 min · Season 8 · Episode 71

About this episode

The episode discusses how St. Louis cut transit crime by 50% through a comprehensive security initiative.

Welcome to the first part of a series we're calling "The Doers"! Public safety is one of the most urgent issues facing transit systems today. In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort sits down with Kevin Scott, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Security at Bi-State Development / St. Louis Metro Transit, to discuss a bold initiative that is reshaping safety across the region’s light rail network. Scott explains how St. Louis developed its Secure Platform Plan, a comprehensive strategy that combines infrastructure upgrades, technology, and partnerships with law enforcement to strengthen security on the MetroLink light rail system. The results are already striking: stations where the program has been implemented have seen a 50% reduction in criminal incidents and a significant increase in ridership. During the conversation, Scott walks through how the plan evolved from a detailed security assessment that produced 99 recommendations, and how those insights helped guide long-term improvements across the system. The episode also explores the powerful connection between actual safety improvements and the perception of safety — and why both are critical to…

People in this episode

Host: Paul Comfort

Guest: Kevin Scott

Topics covered

  • public safety
  • transit systems
  • light rail
  • security initiatives
  • ridership
  • infrastructure upgrades

Keywords

  • transit crime
  • public safety
  • MetroLink
  • Secure Platform Plan
  • ridership increase
  • security partnerships
  • CCTV coverage

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bi-State Development, St. Louis Metro Transit

Places: St. Louis, MetroLink

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