Councillor Brad Bradford to Introduce TTC Safety Motion Following Recent Stabbings
Bradford TTC safety plan calls for police, lighting upgrades and platform doors
Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford says he will bring forward a motion at City Council this week aimed at improving safety across the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) system, following two recent stabbing incidents within a 24-hour period.
The incidents included a stabbing on a TTC bus near Wilson Avenue and Keele Street, followed by another at Bloor-Yonge subway station less than a day later. The events have renewed concerns among riders about safety on public transit.
Motion Focuses on Immediate Safety Measures
Bradford’s proposed motion, titled “Safer Subways: Making Public Safety a Priority and Restoring Confidence to Toronto Transit Commission Riders Across Toronto,” outlines three primary measures:
- Deployment of police officers at every TTC subway station
- Establishing clear standards for station cleanliness and lighting
- Accelerating the installation of platform edge doors across the subway system
Torontonians aren’t being heard when they say they don’t feel safe on the TTC — and gaslighting them that everything is fine isn’t good enough.
It’s time for real action: visible police presence, enforced cleanliness and safety standards, and real accountability that restores… pic.twitter.com/hP4awFQXYR
— Brad Bradford (@BradMBradford) March 23, 2026
The motion is expected to be presented to City Council later this week.
Bradford said rider concerns have become a recurring issue across the city.
“People are tired of being told this is fine. A rider was stabbed on a bus. Two people were stabbed at Bloor-Yonge,” he said. “The status quo is failing riders, and it is time City Hall started acting like it.”
Police Presence and System Conditions
The proposal calls for a consistent, visible police presence at all subway stations to deter crime and improve response times to incidents. It also emphasizes the need for coordination with the Toronto Police Service and the TTC to develop an implementation plan, including cost and staffing considerations.
In addition to enforcement, the motion frames station conditions as a safety issue. Bradford argues that poorly lit and unmaintained spaces can contribute to a perception of disorder and risk.
“Cleanliness and lighting are not cosmetic. They are safety,” Bradford said. “When stations are clean, bright, and staffed with the right personnel, it changes behaviour and how people feel.”
Platform Edge Doors and Long-Term Safety
A key component of the motion is the call to install platform edge doors across the subway network, starting with high-priority stations such as Bloor-Yonge.
The proposal requests that TTC staff develop a phased implementation plan over the next decade, with construction beginning as early as 2027. The goal is to reduce track-level incidents and improve both safety and service reliability.
Broader Rider Experience and Accountability
Bradford’s motion also connects safety with overall service quality, referencing his previous proposal for a 15-minute TTC money-back guarantee for delayed riders.
He argues that improving safety and reliability are linked priorities, particularly as the city works to encourage more residents to use public transit.
Ongoing Debate on TTC Safety
The motion comes amid broader discussions at City Hall about transit safety measures. The City has previously invested in initiatives such as customer service ambassadors, crisis response teams and reporting tools.
However, Bradford said many riders continue to feel unsafe, citing feedback from residents across Toronto.
City Council is expected to debate the motion in the coming days, with potential implications for TTC operations, policing and infrastructure investments moving forward.
Stay with GTA Today for updates on transit safety and City Hall decisions.
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