Extended SkyTrain hours could save lives and police would be ready, says New West’s chief

NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS 1130) – Extending SkyTrain hours on weekends is one idea that’s been talked about to help people get home safe over the holidays.

If it ever happens, police in New Westminster say they would be ready for it.

New Westminster has five SkyTrain stations, but Chief Dave Jones doesn’t have any big concerns with adjusting late night hours. “I don’t think it would have any major impact.”

He adds the city wouldn’t need to pay for more officers. “We would look at re-deployment of current resources.”

Jones also believes later SkyTrain hours could save lives.

“We’ve heard of the challenges of getting taxis to leave Vancouver to go as far as the Coquitlams or Surrey or even New Westminster. So, you’re trying to find a safe and efficient way to get people home late and night who may have been drinking in another location.”

As for the idea of people going into New Westminster to cause trouble, Jones says, “The [chances of] getting off the train and then joining into something else here — or out in the area — I think is very low. I see it as being really a convenience to getting people closer to home — or to home.”

There was a deadly stabbing at a SkyTrain station in New Westminster back in October, but Jones tells us, “That stabbing actually occurred as a result of a party or event nearby the SkyTrain.”

Jones believes later SkyTrain service could help cut down on the number of impaired drivers in New Westminster.

Right now, the last train leaving Downtown Vancouver on a weekend is at 1:16 a.m.

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