Video Surveillance Uses by Rail Transit Agencies (2011) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 46-58
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From page 46... ...
To facilitate making the maximum use of the case studies, each one begins with an overview of the transit agency and its policing/security configuration in order to place the ways in which video surveillance is used and monitored into the larger context of the agencies' overall security goals and protection strategies. CASE STUDY 1: ALTAMONT COMMUTER EXPRESS, SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL RAIL COMMISSION, CALIFORNIA Description of the Transit System The Altamont Commuter Express (ACE)
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From page 47... ...
It is an example of the timeframes and issues involved in managing even a fairly small grant involving installation or enhancement of a video surveillance system. The Rail Commission was notified in February 2009 that its request for funds had been approved.
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From page 48... ...
The 15 grade crossings are equipped with warning equipment but not with video surveillance. Trains run in two-car and three-car consists; vehicles are articulated, designed for 66 seated passengers and 187 passengers at full capacity, and are equipped with luggage racks and bicycle storage hangers.
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From page 49... ...
Hiawatha's Original Video Surveillance System Despite opening for revenue service with a well-designed video surveillance system, Metro Transit has been upgrading its system almost since its inception. The initial system was based on almost 130 cameras that were installed at the 17 original stations and two parking lots.
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From page 50... ...
This allowed for continuous recording of all cameras with adjustable frame rates; images per second were increased to ten IPS to eliminate loss of video, which also improved image quality significantly and made the review and retrieval of video less time-consuming. About 3 years ago, Metro Transit became one of the first transit agencies to incorporate video analytics into its surveillance network, installing it at tunnel portals to supplement its intrusion detection system.
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The need to retrofit is more often associated with far older transit agencies, but Metro Transit's experiences with the need to constantly upgrade its surveillance capabilities reinforces that the need to stay current is as important an issue for new systems as for far older rail lines. CASE STUDY 3: METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON, TEXAS Description of the Transit System The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County in Houston, Texas, known as METRO, began operations on January 1, 1979, as a regional transit authority to provide bus service to metropolitan Houston and surrounding areas.
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From page 52... ...
Current and Future Upgrades METRO is currently considering a number of expansions of its video surveillance system that include upgrading equipment but also using surveillance to enhance both its law enforcement and accident prevention efforts. In keeping with advances in camera design, METRO has decided that all new purchases will be of pan-tilt-zoom cameras.
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From page 53... ...
These examples also show how transit systems, particularly street-running light rail systems, are returning to and updating the earlier uses of surveillance primarily to control traffic and risk rather than seeing it primarily as a crime prevention tool, the use that has become more prevalent in recent years. METRO's interest in working with the city administration on the mobile camera project and on its own left-turn analytics project that will aid in traffic enforcement also reinforce the importance of recognizing the collaborative possibilities that are open to transit agencies.
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From page 54... ...
Other safety and security features include glass panels in elevator doors for two-way visibility. LRVs are equipped with two-way radios with direct communication with the Operations Control Center, a buzzer system to alert patrons that doors are closing, and a number of features to aid emergency evacuations.
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From page 55... ...
. In addition, the agency's operating plans include surveillance in patrol and operator/cab areas for all new vehicles and surveillance cameras in all new station design plans, a plan that has been implemented for all North Shore Connector stations.
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Valley Metro has 28 stations; the major activity centers it serves are downtown Phoenix, the Sky Harbor Airport, Papago Park Center, Arizona State University, downtown Tempe, and Mesa. Eight parking lots provide a total of 3,600 spaces.
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. Protecting the Tempe Town Lake Bridge A major element of the surveillance system, and a particular focus of Valley Metro's safety and security program, is the 1,500-ft bridge over the Tempe Town Lake.
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From page 58... ...
Valley Metro reinforces its own role in protecting its property by investing in electronically protecting the Town Lake Bridge, as well as all other facilities, and also by sharing its surveillance images with local police to help them solve incidents and investigate accidents. Valley Metro also helps keep the local police from becoming overburdened with transit-related calls by having its emergency call boxes linked to its Operations Control Center rather than directly to the police so that it can filter out calls that are not actual emergencies, such as patrons using the phone to find out when the next train is due to arrive.
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