Contract awarded to design, build and maintain MTA police radio system

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board approved a 20-year, $70.7-million contract to the Harris Corporation of Rochester for the design, construction and maintenance of an enhanced radio system for the MTA Police Department.

 

Funding for this security-sensitive initiative is coming from the MTA’s 2010-2014 Capital Program.

“We are delighted to be able to move forward with this much-needed enhancement to our police radio system,” said MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Prendergast. “We’re equally pleased that the award of this contract, like so many other contracts awarded through the MTA Capital Program, will mean jobs for upstate New York. Over the course of more than 30 years, state-supported MTA capital plans have kept the MTA system, which is essential to the downstate region’s economy and daily life, running safely and reliably. Those same capital expenditures, like our upcoming 2015-19 capital plan, also fueled economic activity all across the state, employing thousands of workers providing goods and services to the MTA. In fact, our proposed plan will support some 400,000 jobs statewide.”

“Harris is proud to be selected as the communications partner for the MTA Police Department Radio System as it serves more than 14 million New York and Connecticut commuters on the move every day,” said Dana Mehnert, Harris Group president.

The MTA Police Department is the law enforcement agency for the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and the Staten Island Railway, which together serve nearly 170 million passengers annually. The MTA Police Department’s jurisdiction extends across 14 counties in two states, covering approximately 5,000 square miles.

As part of its daily operations, MTA police officers require the use of a two-way radio system as the primary method of receiving dispatch orders, reporting information back to headquarters and to call for emergency aid and assistance. Through this contract, the existing MTA police radio system will be upgraded and enhanced to modern specifications, improving communications throughout the department’s entire service territory.

The project involves partnerships with local and state agencies and includes the installation of modernized equipment at 69 sites throughout 14 counties.

 

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