Every CTA rail Station will have one or more safety cameras by May 31
Written by jrood
February 14, 2001 Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Transit Authority officials said that by May 31, one or more safety cameras will have been installed at every one of the CTA's 144 rail stations.
"We have reached an
important milestone in our ongoing efforts to make our transit system as safe
as it can be. We know that cameras deter violence in our neighborhoods. They
can be equally effective on public transportation," Daley said in a news
conference with CTA officials held at the Paulina station on the Brown Line.
The
Mayor also said that by the end of the year, the CTA plans to have nearly 3,000
cameras installed system-wide.
"Having cameras at
every station is a valuable tool, both for security purposes and from an
operations perspective as well. Real-time video is available to CTA’s Control
Center and can assist in the event of a service disruption," said CTA
President Richard L. Rodriguez. "The CTA is committed to putting the tools
in place to increase the safety of its customers and employees, and reaching
this milestone is a step in the right direction."
Daley said that since
2002, the CTA has made great progress in upgrading its infrastructure to
include the addition of safety cameras. And so far this year, they have
installed about 550 cameras, increasing coverage to more than 1,800. The Mayor
pointed out that the CTA station cameras build on many previous steps the city
has taken to create a camera safety network that helps law enforcement and
emergency personnel in their mission of serving and protecting residents.
The CTA has received $22.6
million in Department of Homeland Security funds since 2006 to enhance its
security and surveillance network and is using a portion of those funds to expand
camera coverage on its rail system.
After each station across the system has
at least one high definition camera installed, additional cameras will be
installed across the rail system beginning with the Loop stations and along the
Brown and Red lines by this fall. All stations will have multiple cameras by
the end of the year.
The CTA is investing
approximately $19 million to install and network security cameras across the
system. The remainder of the funds will be used to further enhance the CTA’s security
network by improving the video management system.
All the projects will be
paid for by a combination of DHS, Federal Transit Administration and other
grant funds.
"We’re appreciative
that the federal government recognizes the importance of technology – like
security cameras – in keeping the system safe," said Chicago Transit Board
Chairman Terry Peterson. "These Department of Homeland Security grants are
allowing the CTA to make significant upgrades to the security and surveillance
network that benefits CTA, its customers and the communities served by
CTA."
Daley said that later
this year CTA will launch a pilot program to see whether it’s feasible to
retrofit CTA’s rail cars with safety cameras. The CTA’s new 5000-series rail
cars come equipped with cameras.
"Every day, the
Chicago Transit Authority provides more than 1.7 million rides on buses and
trains – moving people to and from work and throughout the city. They want a
system that provides on-time, safe and reliable service – one that works for
them," the Mayor said.
"A modern public transportation system is vital
to our economic security and to our ability to recruit new businesses and
create new jobs. At the end of the day, as the leaders of the CTA agree, what’s
important is that we use every available tool to have a system of public
transportation that works for our people."
