TCRP: Drug Use on Transit
Addressing the Impact and Response to Drug Use on Transit
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Cover graphic by Daniel Downey Illustration
From Crisis to Solutions: The First National Study on Drug Use in U.S. Transit
New research shows how cities can balance enforcement, harm reduction, and long-term investments to keep transit moving.
The Impacts and Response to Drug Use on Public Transit in America
Commissioned by the Transit Cooperative Research Program and funded by the Federal Transit Administration, this landmark study examines how drug use is affecting transit in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Portland.
“The five transit agencies offered a rare and unflinching first-hand look at the realities of drug use on public transit—an act of leadership and vulnerability guiding us towards solutions.”
— David Cooper, Co-Lead, Principal of Leading Mobility
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Frontline staff trauma: Exposure to overdoses, assaults, and biohazards.
Enforcement gap: Jurisdictional conflicts and non-prosecution policies limit action.
Mission creep: Transit workers becoming de facto public health responders.
Low service uptake: Services don’t always match individual needs.
Safety vs. harm reduction: Life-saving measures sometimes concentrate challenges.
Communication gaps: Limited coordination across agencies and partners.
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Chicago: Public health vending machines with naloxone and test kits.
Denver & LA: Station design changes to deter drug use, including elevator pilots.
Philadelphia: Compassionate outreach with clear boundaries on sheltering in stations.
Los Angeles: Funding shelter stays for unhoused riders.
Portland: Multidisciplinary Safety Response Team integrating outreach, enforcement, and customer service.
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Agency-wide naloxone policies for staff.
Station redesign guided by Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).
Align codes of conduct with evolving drug laws.
Expand outreach with peer specialists and integrated support.
Standardize data collection to measure interventions.
Strengthen coordination across transit, outreach, health, and police.
“What we’re seeing on transit is a reflection of broader challenges—homelessness, drug use, and limited support services. We need a sustained, multi-pronged response that combines outreach, enforcement, and long-term investments in recovery and housing.”
— Dr. Emily Grisé, Co-Lead, University of Alberta
About the Study
Led by Leading Mobility Consulting (David Cooper), the University of Alberta (Dr. Emily Grisé), and Klumpentown Consulting (Willem Klumpenhouwer), this study is the first comprehensive assessment of drug use on U.S. transit. The findings highlight a balanced approach—combining harm reduction, enforcement, and systemic change—to keep transit safe and sustainable.
Additional Resources
Denver Conference
In December 2025, RTD hosted a first-of-its-kind conference on drug use in public transit to support the dissemination of The Impacts of and Response to Drug Use on Transit, a Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) report published in August 2025. The event brought together over a dozen transit agencies from across the U.S. and Canada, along with Colorado-based first responders and health care professionals, to build on the report’s recommendations and support agencies in moving from research to action. The report reflects findings from five U.S. transit agencies, including RTD. A conference summary highlighting collective actions across five key themes, along with a summary video is provided below.