WASHINGTON—Michael Melaniphy, president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association, is calling for greater investment in transit security in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, according to an article from Progressive Railroading.
BOSTON—The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has released a smartphone application to allow individuals to send reports of suspicious activity, including photos, to the Transit Police Department.
NEW YORK—Amtrak is constantly improving security, was the message Joseph Boardman conveyed during a press conference at Penn Station on May 9, after information recovered from the Pakistani compound where Osama bin Laden was killed revealed threats to the U.S. transit system.
NEW YORK—In light of dizzying accusations that a man stole 150 charter buses, undetected, from a New Jersey depot over the course of several years, has caused New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to announce an investigation into lax transit security measures.
WASHINGTON—On the day that John Pistole was sworn in as the new head of the Transportation Security Administration, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano took the opportunity to focus on improving the nation’s surface transit system.
CHICAGO—By the end of May, the Chicago Transit Authority will have at least one surveillance camera in place at each of its 144 stations. The CTA is in the process of installing 3,000 cameras throughout its transportation system, which will likely be completed by the end of the year, reported in the Chicago Tribune.
MOSCOW—The double suicide bombings that exploded at separate rail stations during rush hour here last week, killing nearly 40 people, prompted increased security measures throughout major U.S. transit systems. I
SEATTLE—After three security officers stood by and watched a 15-year-old girl get assaulted in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, transit authorities have raised questions about whether employing an “observe and report” approach to guarding might not only be ineffective, but dangerous.
BALTIMORE—This time next year, the Maryland Transit Administration intends to have all of its 669 buses equipped with a mobile video surveillance solution capable of transmitting live video to its dispatch center, said Colonel John Gavrilis, chief of police for the MTA. To date, they’ve outfitted 130 new and existing buses with the new mobile technology.
SEATTLE—The release of video footage showing a 15-year-old girl being beaten in front of three security officers in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel on Jan. 28 has spurred both public and industry scrutiny. The video shows three officers allowing the attack to occur, literally at their feet, claiming later that they were unable to intervene due to policy and liability restrictions.
