Raleigh crews are fencing off a breezeway near the downtown GoRaleigh bus station as the city works to create safer public transit.
Crews are installing the gated fence at a breezeway on Wilmington Street that leads to the Moore Square bus station. The fence is expected to be completed by Wednesday afternoon.
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After that, officers will be stationed at the front of the entrance to direct people on how to get to the bus station. They said they will also be monitoring and keeping track of any ADA issues.
"We are going to be installing a fence on both sides of the tunnel," said Het Patel, GoRaleigh transit assistant director. "The fence will have doors, and the doors access will really be for our police department as well as our private security and our GoRaleigh operators."
The Raleigh Police Department and GoRaleigh are hoping the new fencing addition will help with the loitering in that corridor, which police said would include alcohol consumption, large groups hanging out blocking the sidewalk, or even drug sales.
"We have a lot of customers who walk up, see that there’s a store and come in . Now that its closed they’ll detour," said Nabil Alghamie, who owns the bodega next to the breezeway.
He said when an RPD officer patrolled the street, his presence was enough to break up the illegal activity at night. He thinks increased police presence is key.
"I think with everything presence is the best deterrence. When Rosa was here, he was active, anytime we needed him, I’d shoot him a text and he’d be here. Whenever he pulled up everyone would just scatter," Alghamie said.
The fencing comes as North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement announced that dozens of people are facing more than 130 felonies in a summer operation around Moore Square, which is about a three-minute walk from the bus station. GoRaleigh serves about 14,000 to 17,000 people a day with approximately 65 buses that go in and out of the station.
According to the Raleigh Police Department, they have received a total of 1,580 calls for service between Feb. 1 and Aug. 19. Those numbers include eight reports of aggravated assault, including one with a gun and six with a knife.
Raleigh police captain Matthew Chestnut said the new fencing will ensure that they aren't splitting resources.
"What we're trying to do is prevent some of the loitering in that area, and have more of the foot traffic inside the GoRaleigh station, where most of our officers are," Chesnut said.
However some who use the breezeway to access the bus station say it will create difficulties for riders.
"It's inconvenient for the handicapped people who get off the bus and they cut to go to the store right here. Now they have to go all the way around in the cold and everything," said Otha Harris who lives in Raleigh.
While GoRaleigh and Raleigh police officers hope that this fencing change will help improve safety, some riders echoed the statement it may hinder accessibility.
"I feel like it would be an inconvenience for disabled people and the people who travel here often. You know, it's kind of easily accessible to the other streets, and I just feel like it's a good thing if they keep it," said Tysheem Blackman, a bus rider.
As for what's coming next for potential safety improvements, Patel said they would look into adding more security resources "when we feel like it's needed," and additional cameras in and around the GoRaleigh station and parking deck next to it.
"That's likely to help out as well," Patel said.