MTA NYC Transit adds camera-equipped train on the E Line

With an eye toward enhancing customer and employee security, MTA New York City Transit is set to begin a project that will put advanced video surveillance equipment onboard four cars of a 10-car subway train that will be in operation along the lettered lines through early 2011. This train will also be used to pilot a new handhold configuration and rush-hour flip up seats, though the seating feature will not be put into use at this time.

Video surveillance is a
vital element of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s ongoing effort to
maintain a transit network that is as safe and secure as possible. As planned,
the system provides a state-of-the-art electronic tool that will aid in the
investigation and prosecution of criminal activity aboard the vehicle.

"Video camera
systems have clearly been shown to help deter criminal activity on transit
vehicles and we believe strongly that they can also be extremely valuable in
investigating accident injury claims," said NYC Transit President Thomas
F. Prendergast. "But we must also acknowledge the potential threat of
terrorist activity on public transportation vehicles and CCTV (Closed Circuit
Television) has been instrumental in helping with investigations in this
area."

The 12-month evaluation
period began on February 22 onboard an R160 train in customer service along the
E Line. This system will record video images of the passenger area in four cars
of the ten-car train.

"The CCTV System
will be evaluated for its recording quality and car-to-car transmission of
video signals within the subway environment," said Steven Feil, Senior
Vice President, Department of Subways. "Upon successful completion of the
testing and evaluation of the system, NYC Transit may consider implementing the
CCTV System throughout the subway fleet."

The system, manufactured
and installed by TOA Corp., consists of a total of 16 cameras – four in each
car. There is one DVR (Digital Video Recorder) for each set of cameras and four
NCUs (Network Controller Units) for transmitting the video signals between
cars. The cameras have been placed to effectively cover the passenger area.

A video surveillance
decal will be visible on each car to alert passengers that they may be video
taped. It is important to note that this system is for recording purposes only
and does not have the capability for passenger monitoring by the train crew or
the ability to transmit real time video of events to a designated remote area.

While the cameras have been
designed to be unobtrusive, customers will notice the modified seating and
handhold arrangement providing additional areas for standing customers to hold
on to. This test train has been retrofitted with rush-hour, flip-up seating
that would increase customer capacity by 19 percent (per car) if raised from
their lowered position. However, deployment of this feature is not being
considered at this time.

In another MTA story, new Long Island Rail Road timetables go into effect Monday, March 8, to
reflect the impact of several projects. Track maintenance and construction
programs will impact midday, weekday service on the Port Washington and Babylon
Branches along with minor impacts on the Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson
(to Huntington) and Ronkonkoma Branches. Bridge renewal programs on the Long
Beach Branch will mean no train service between Valley Stream and Long Beach on
two weekends in March and two weekends in May. Bus service will be provided.