,
Less than three weeks after a city bus driver fatally stabbed a passenger near Coors Boulevard, new data shows security calls to Albuquerque’s transit system have jumped 81% over the past year.
The July 9 stabbing followed an argument on board that spilled onto the street. Surveillance video shows the 41-year-old driver pursuing the passenger, described as someone “known to commonly give the driver trouble for being late” and taking a “bladed stance” before the fatal altercation. The driver was later charged with murder, tampering with evidence and criminal damage to property.
The stabbing put a spotlight on safety issues that have been building for a while. Security calls rose from 3,929 in late fiscal 2024 to 7,123 by spring 2025 — according to reports submitted to the City Council.
“With more security, we have more eyes on our transit system and more reports taking place,” said Connor Woods, the city’s public affairs specialist. “Not only are reactive calls included in our total monthly calls, but so are proactive activities, which take place on a daily basis.”
Woods noted that proactive activities have increased from 61% to 83% of total monthly calls, indicating that the rise reflects more surveillance and prevention rather than just more incidents.
Most of those calls came from bus stops, not on buses. Central Avenue’s Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) line, which carries about 30% of all riders, accounts for a disproportionate share of incidents.
At the same time, ABQ RIDE’s dashboard shows some progress. Class A incidents — the most serious, including assaults and major disturbances — peaked at 171 in July 2023 but dropped to just 15 by May 2025. So, while total calls went up, the worst cases went down.
While a University of New Mexico study found ART dramatically reduced fatal and serious traffic crashes by nearly 65%, the new security data shows a different kind of risk facing the city’s flagship transit line.
“Central Ave accounts for about 30% of ABQ RIDE’s ridership, and with that, we would expect to see more security calls in that corridor,” said Madeline Skrak, an ABQ RIDE spokesperson, explaining why most security resources are focused on the ART route.
The city tracks transit-related calls from Albuquerque police, Metro Security and Albuquerque Community Safety under a 2022 ordinance, which requires quarterly reports. The law followed a $1 million push by the City Council to boost transit security, add oversight and improve accountability.
Following the Trend
Albuquerque’s transit safety issues mirror a national trend. The U.S. leads developed countries in public transit attacks, accounting for nearly 30% of incidents worldwide between 2004 and 2021, according to the Mineta Transportation Institute.
Since 2016, the U.S. has seen 20 fatal transit attacks resulting in 22 deaths. Most appeared random, not politically motivated.
Transit crime has spiked in major cities, with New York City reporting a 41% year-over-year increase in June 2022 and similar jumps in Chicago and Los Angeles. In response, cities have added “transit ambassadors,” more police and tech upgrades — steps Albuquerque has also taken as part of its layered safety strategy.
Locally, the most common calls involve behavioral health issues, wellness checks and contacts with unsheltered individuals, mostly handled by the Albuquerque Community Safety Department. More serious crimes like vandalism, assault and drug violations are tracked separately. Metro Security handles most routine patrols and loitering calls.
Albuquerque Community Safety helps keep the ABQ RIDE system safe by responding to calls about mental health, welfare checks and unsheltered individuals, said Jorge Hernández, an ACS spokesperson.
“Unlike traditional law enforcement, ACS responders are unarmed and trained in trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques and resource navigation,” Hernández said.
The goal, he added, is to focus on “connection rather than enforcement” and tackle the root causes behind repeat incidents.
ABQ RIDE serves about 20,200 riders a day. Ninety percent live in households earning under $35,000 and have limited access to a car. The system runs on a $67 million annual budget, with about $23 million from the city’s transportation infrastructure tax and $8 million from county and regional governments. The rest — around $30 million — comes from the city’s General Fund. Security costs are rising as ridership has grown 25% since July 2023.
Multi-Layered Security Response
Albuquerque has rolled out a multi-agency transit safety strategy, outlined in its Long-Range Transit Security Plan.
“We’re continuing to step up when it comes to keeping transit safe for families by using tech, holding violators accountable, and doubling down on police presence,” said Mayor Tim Keller last October. “Criminal behavior will not be tolerated, and we won’t back down until riding the bus in Albuquerque is a frictionless experience for all; hop on, hop off, and be safe the whole time.”
- Law Enforcement: About 12 APD Service Aides ride buses in high-incident areas. Another 19 Transit Safety Officers — out of 25 funded positions — enforce rules and respond to emergencies. The city plans to grow that team to 72 officers and six sergeants. Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) now shares office space at the Alvarado Transportation Center to better connect with people experiencing homelessness, addiction or mental health crises.
APD Transit Police Service Aides now ride city buses in pairs, acting as an extra set of eyes for drivers. They observe and report any violations of the “Rules to Ride” to Transit Safety Officers and flag potential criminal activity to sworn police officers, said APD spokesperson Franchesca Perdue.
APD’s Field Services Bureau also runs proactive patrols along Central Avenue, where ridership is highest. These operations allow officers to take enforcement action in real time, Perdue said.
- Metro Security: Eight officers from Metro Security’s 100-person force focus on transit, especially the ART route and Alvarado Center, using mobile units and Central Avenue patrols.
- Contracted Security: More than 45 private guards from GardaWorld patrol ART platforms, transit centers and bus stops, and randomly ride buses.
- Technology Integration: Buses and ART stations have security cameras, but the system needs better integration with APD’s Real Time Crime Center. The new See Something, Say Something app lets riders report problems in real time. The city also plans to upgrade from a single-channel to a multi-channel radio system for faster emergency response.
- Community Partnerships: ACS sends out social workers and behavioral health teams for non-criminal situations. ABQ RIDE, APD and Metro Security hold weekly meetings to coordinate.
“All of these pieces together work to meet people where they’re at through a compassionate response,” Woods explained. “Our Transit Safety Officers determine the most appropriate response and have the ability to mobilize Albuquerque Police Sworn Officers and Albuquerque Community Safety Responders.”
Woods added that the National Guard will support a proactive response throughout the transit system.
The city also launched a suspension policy last October. Riders who break the rules can be banned from transit for anywhere from a week to more than a year, depending on the offense.
Data Gaps Limit Route-Specific Analysis
While the city tracks security incidents systemwide, the data has gaps.
APD and ACS don’t provide route-specific breakdowns, so it’s unclear which bus lines or ART segments generate the most calls.
Bus route data doesn’t include addresses, so APD’s quarterly reports might not line up with Transit’s incident records, said APD spokesperson Franchesca Perdue. “The types of incidents and locations vary,” she said.
Perdue said response times have improved since Transit Safety Officers began operating out of the Alvarado Transportation Center. “APD is also co-located there with ABQ Ride Dispatch and executive staff, which makes communication and response more efficient,” she said.
The location boosts APD’s visibility along the First Street corridor, which includes ATC, Greyhound, Amtrak, nearby homes, parking structures and Downtown businesses. Perdue said that visibility helps deter crime.
ABQ RIDE’s dashboard adds some insight. Class A incidents peaked at 171 in July 2023 but dropped sharply through 2024, falling to single digits by the end of the year. As of May, only 15 were reported.
Only Metro Security provides route-level data. In the most recent quarter, Central Avenue had the most activity with 27 calls, followed by Route 157 — Montaño/Uptown/Kirtland and Route 5 — Montgomery/Carlisle/Lomas. But Metro handles just a fraction of incidents, while APD responds to the most serious cases.
“Central makes up more than 30% of the City’s total ridership. There is a greater need throughout the Central Corridor, but also throughout the city, as we’ve seen an increase in ridership,” Woods said.
He noted that Transit Safety Officers “are able to respond quickly throughout the transit system, with support of police service aids riding buses, contracted security services and our other safety partners.”
Woods also pointed to the dashboard data showing Class A crimes decreasing — “We’re seeing a decrease in ‘class A’ crime because of our approach.”
To improve tracking, the city hired Parametrix for a $450,000 study on long-term safety strategies. A new Transit Safety Division with dedicated data staff is expected to launch in 2025 to improve accuracy and transparency.
Federal Constraints Complicate Improvements
ART’s security challenges are bumping up against federal rules that restrict design changes. The project was funded through a Small Starts grant, which bars major modifications without risking more than $100 million in federal “clawbacks.”
That means solutions must work within the current design — even as some business owners say features like turn restrictions and center-running lanes are hurting foot traffic and contributing to safety concerns.
City Councilor and mayoral candidate Louie wants Congress to loosen the rules. As previously reported, he’s pushing for more flexibility so the city can address complaints from businesses without jeopardizing federal funding.
The debate highlights a core tension — ART’s design has reduced serious crashes, according to city traffic data, but some at a July town hall blamed those same features for economic struggles and rising security problems.
Transit advocates disagree. They point out that ART carries nearly a third of all ABQ RIDE trips and say it’s boosting the corridor, not dragging it down.
“ART is doing what it was designed to do,” said Strong Towns ABQ, a local chapter of the national Strong Towns movement. “It carries nearly a third of all ABQ RIDE trips and has made the area around it three times more productive than the rest of the city. We see it as a foundation to build on, not scale back.”
Skrak agreed: “ART is not only a local success, but also holds world-class recognition from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. A well-connected transit system is essential for a healthy city, and ART continues to move us in the right direction.”