Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 17, 2005

Metro’s Board of Directors approves the purchase of video cameras for placement on 125 Metrobuses

To address safety and security concerns, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) today approved the purchase and installation of video camera systems on 125 Metrobuses currently in service.

Video cameras are on 100 of the 1,400 Metrobuses in the fleet and they are operating throughout the metropolitan region. The new video cameras, at a cost of $8,000 per Metrobus ($1 million total), will be installed on Metrobuses that operate in areas where there are reported incidents that require police action. Metro expects to have these video cameras installed by this fall.

"The installation of video cameras on Metrobuses will support our bus operators by serving as a deterrent to criminal activity, assist our police department in criminal and accident investigations, and will also save the authority money from false claims brought against Metro," said Polly Hanson, Metro’s Chief of Police.

Last month, Metro officials met with the union that represents bus operators to discuss Metrobus security issues. The Metro Transit Police are working to increase visibility on Metrobuses and Metrobus facilities by conducting additional patrols, implementing sweep teams at strategic locations, coordinating with local police agencies to increase awareness and attention to bus crimes, and working with local prosecutors to fully charge bus perpetrators.

Earlier this month, the Metro Transit Police arrested three juveniles at the Congress Heights Metrorail station for throwing snowballs at a Metrobus in the bus bay area at the station. Two 14-year-old males and one 17-year-old male from Southeast, Washington, D.C., were processed at the Metropolitan Police Department Youth Division and diverted to youth court.

"Everyone at Metro, from the top down is sensitive to the concerns of bus operator and facility safety and security," continued Chief Hanson. "We want to assure our bus operators, and our customers, that we will continue to do everything we can to enhance safety and security aboard our Metrobuses. The additional cameras to be placed on 125 buses is a start. However, we must all work together, our police partners, local communities and schools must all be active partners in helping to reduce criminal activity on or near Metrobuses."

Metro is scheduled to take initial delivery of 250 new Compressed Natural Gas buses later this year and those buses also will have video cameras on them as will all future orders for new buses.

News release issued on March 17, 2005.