Category: Transit Police and Security

As an Information Technology professional, I'd prefer to setup a database of "topics" organized by "category" to be discussed by the RAC.

For now, I'll establish a BLOG posting for each category. If you have comments on a specific category, please post a comment to the appropriate category:

(Index to Categories)

Transit Police and Security Issues

T.1 - Metro Transit Police needs to published an evacuation plan for each subway station
I was one of the unfortunates that had an opportunity to walk down Connecticut Avenue when a fire at Woodley Park closed the Red Line. Following this incident, I had the pleasure to speak with Chief Polly Hanson on a number of occasions to discuss options to prevent similar problems, and provide better information to consumers in the future.

It is my understanding that Metro has worked on ways to better coordinate with the local jurisdiction and has produced plans for some of the stations.

I would like to see the plans posted or published for customer access and comment. I know that riders that frequent stations may have some better ideas and alternatives that Metro may not have considered.

I would also like to see the plans for crown control, bus queuing, and staffing.

1. The availability of sawhorses and some emergency tape would go a long way to control bus queuing and crowd control.
2. The "deputizing" of trained volunteers would supplement the limited staff at each station. With 940 people interested in volunteering for the RAC, I’m guessing the number of volunteers willing to be trained to assist in an emergency would be even greater.

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T.2 – Improve security for customers waiting for busses and taxis late at night when the train stations are mostly abandoned except for a very few customers and one station manager, sitting alone at a bus stop is both scary and unsafe.

I recommend the creation of a Safe Haven zone within the Train Station in view of the station manager where customers can wait for their rides. This would require:

• A notification board or flat panel display to show busses that are available for boarding.
• A method for busses and taxis to notify the station manager or to post a message to the notification board.

I think that the cost of a Safe Haven zone would go a long way towards improving the safety and security of customers that depend on Metro for late night travel.

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T.3 – More Metro Police and/or security coverage at stations

Not ever station has a Metro Transit Police Officer at all times. I understand that the police force just doesn’t have that many officers to cover all 86 stations from 5:00AM to 12:30PM and later on weekends and during events. Metro Transit Police currently has 400 sworn officers, to cover a 1,500 square mile Transit Zone. Full coverage of each station would require 310 of those officers to strictly man one train station. This would leave only 80 officers to cover the remainder of Metro Transit Police’s buses, parking lots, facilities, train cars, etc.

Could security guards or rail inspectors help with coverage, as I’ve seen at Transfer Stations? How many police officers does MTPD need? How can the RAC get the MTPD the resources it needs?

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Washington's Metro transit agency tightened security following the London bombings. Special response teams were conducting regular sweeps of rail stations searching for explosives and weapons. Special Response Team officer, B. Hanna, patrols a train at Metro Center"
Photo by Sarah L. Voisin - Washington Post

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• Communications
• Parking
• Transit Police and Security
• Scheduling
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