Enhanced security at Springfield’s Union Station a response to 400 police calls in 3 months

SPRINGFIELD – Police have been called to Union Station at least 400 times over the past three months for a range of problems, prompting a push to make the city's transportation hub safer and more welcoming.

"It is continuous. It has been an issue since December," said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman.

The station has seen drug use, fights and the unhoused loitering there. In the past three months, it was the site of five overdoses, five larcenies, 15 arrests, 90 calls for ambulance assists, 80 calls for disturbances, 50 calls for trespassers and 25 calls for concerns about psychiatric behavior, Walsh said.

In March, two people were injured and two juveniles were arrested in a shooting that took place outside Union Station. The victims recovered from their injuries.

For months, off-duty police have been working paid details to patrol the station at busy or problem times, but this will go a step further, Walsh said.

The new Safe Travels Initiative Task Force at Union Station is a partnership between police, the city's economic development department, the Hampden Sheriff's Department and the Appleton Corporation, which manages the station.

The effort kicked off last week with training led by Police Lt. Brian Elliot, who also heads up the Hope 2.0 street outreach pairing police with clinicians who work with the homeless. The department's Springfield Metro and C3 divisions will be part of the regular patrols, Walsh said.

When the historic Union Station was renovated after being closed for decades, there were plans to turn it into a hub that would include restaurants, retail space and more. But that changed when businesses showed more interest in leasing space.

While there is a Dunkin' outlet, a Subway and a convenience store, much of the rest of the building is rented as commercial space, including the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence training center, located in the spot originally set aside for a restaurant, said Timothy Sheehan, chief development officer for the city.

Union Station is owned by the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, the real estate arm of the city. About 80% of available space is rented and some of the open space is hard to lease because of low ceilings in one part of the 1929 building, he said.

"The issue is if we are going to attract people as a travel center, there needs to be more of a security presence than there has been to date," Sheehan said.

An estimated 3 million people travel through Union Station every year. The city is hoping that number will expand with the long-term plan to create east-west rail.

The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority is offering fare-free rides through the end of September. The last time fares were collected was November 2024.

With free fares, ridership is up 30%, the authority said.

Because Union Station can also serve as a gateway for people who are coming into the city, it is important to ensure it feels safe, Sheehan said.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said in a statement Friday that the project will make Union Station safer and more welcoming.

Some high schools use PVTA buses instead of standard school buses for transportation. One school, run by the Springfield Empowerment Zone, is downtown and those students pick up their buses at Union Station, said Azell Cavaan, school spokeswoman.

Last school year, at least one person who was believed to be homeless was making students uncomfortable, she said.

"The Springfield Police Department is committed to the safety of all our residents and visitors who travel through Union Station," Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers said in a statement.

The task force is expected to work with the management, tenants and travelers of Union Station to prevent crime and respond quickly to any problems, he said.

On the first day of the initiative Monday, building manager Nicole Sweeney briefed the second shift of officers, timed to arrive just as students were dismissed at 2 p.m. from the first day of classes at city schools.

"This is Day 1," she said. "We are excited to provide a safe environment for the traveling public."

Bob Alberti, director of law enforcement for the sheriff's office and a former Easthampton police chief, said their first job is to integrate the city police with the sheriff's personnel and show them around Union Station.

Besides police, there was a smattering of travelers Monday moving through the station's main concourse.

Twins Lauren and Lori Phillipps were waiting for a Greyhound bus to Boston after a weekend visit. Lauren said it's a good idea to have a police presence. Emotions sometimes run high when traveling.

Staff writer Jim Kinney contributed to this story.

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