Ruggles Crime Rate Gives NU Students Reason to Shuttle

By Megan Donovan

ROXBURY -- Ruggles station, which borders Northeastern University had significantly higher crime rates than nearby stations at Massachusetts Avenue and Roxbury Crossing, according to recent MBTA. Last year, Ruggles had 35 crimes reported, or 8 percent of total crime on the Orange Line. The Mass Ave station had 19 and Roxbury Crossing had 18 crimes reported.

“The MBTA is one of the safest forms of transportation in the country,” said James Varior, associate director of crime prevention at Northeastern University. “Ruggles is one of the busier stations. Buses, the T and the commuter rail all run out of there.”

Varior says Ruggles’ proximity to high schools such as Boston Latin School affects the crime rate. He could only recall one incident in which a student was involved in a crime on the T, and that was at Copley Square.

“The attacks are typically not random,” said Varior.

Still, Northeastern students tend to avoid Ruggles station and choose the green line.
“I do not feel as comfortable traveling alone on the Orange Line, especially at night, and less comfortable waiting alone at most of their train stations,” said Mary Avila, who graduated in 2009.

Northeastern’s public safety division provides students who feel uncomfortable around campus with an escort service from dusk until dawn. They also provide a shuttle that runs hourly between dusk and dawn, which picks up off-campus students at a designated location and drives them home.

“I have had friends who frequently made use of the shuttle to get back from the library to the Davenport residence halls as well, as they did not feel safe crossing through the garage or Ruggles past midnight,” Avila said.

Though some students are safety conscious, others still choose to walk 2 miles at 2 a.m., intoxicated and unaware, to save money on a cab. These are the crimes of opportunity Varior worries about.

“Use street smarts,” he says. “Travel in groups and don’t let your guard down.”

Ruggles ranks third in stations with the highest crime rate. Downtown Crossing is second, reporting 64 crimes, or 15 percent of total Orange Line crimes. Forest Hills station ranks No. 1 with 95 crimes, or 22 percent of crime on the Orange Line.