Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
METRO TRANSIT ANNOUNCES
$2.4 MILLION SECURITY INITIATIVE
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – (May 2) – Metro Transit today announced a four-point plan worth $2.4 million that will improve security on board its buses.
The plan includes a five-fold increase in the number of annual hours transit police officers will ride on-board buses on urban routes, said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb.
“Recent incidents on our buses – including last week’s homicide – have understandably prompted concern among our customers,” Lamb said. “This initiative is designed to boost the confidence of our customers in the safety of their ride.”
Lamb emphasized that transit crime actually decreased 7.5 percent last year and that trend continues this year. Nevertheless, he said the new investments are warranted to reassure customers and the public overall.
The four-point plan includes these elements:
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Greater police presence on buses
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Broadened partnerships with local police departments to leverage resources
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Retrofitting 240 buses with enhanced multi-camera digital recording systems
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Increased community outreach efforts with groups such as the Minneapolis chapter of MADDADS.
Lamb said Metro Transit police officers will ride buses 1,500 hours a month, up from 270 hours a month last year. The increase is possible through the hiring of eight more full-time officers this year (four already have been hired) and the redeployment of other resources. The increased police staff time will cost about $800,000.
He said Metro Transit’s partnership with the Minneapolis police department will allow his agency to move most of its downtown beat officers to buses with a commitment from the city to beef up its presence at key city bus stops.
“We appreciate the willingness of the City of Minneapolis to invest $500,000 of its police resources to enhanced sidewalk patrolling at major downtown bus stops,” Lamb said. “This action gives us additional flexibility in redirecting transit police officers to on-board patrols.”
Metro Transit also will open bids in late May to select a vendor to begin installing new digital cameras on 240 of its buses. All buses in Metro Transit’s fleet already have camera systems, and images from those cameras have been useful in identifying and arresting all suspects involved in recent incidents.
The new cameras, valued at $1.6 million, will have better lens, continuous recording capabilities and better dependability, he said. All new buses also will be delivered with the latest technology camera systems.
Lamb said Metro Transit intends to extend its partnership with Minneapolis MADDADS. For the last year the respected community group has been riding Metro Transit buses 32 hours each month to improve civility, enhance bus-riding etiquette and encourage respect.
“Transit is a key element in our regional plans to manage growing traffic congestion,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell. “Those who choose to ride our regional buses are entitled to expect the safest environment we can provide. This plan achieves that goal.”
Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, served customers 73.4 million times in 2006.
