St. Louis Metro Transit advances rail security improvements

Efforts to improve safety and security on the Metro Transit-St. Louis rail system have made significant progress, according to a third-quarter assessment by WSP in partnership with the East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGCOG).

EWGCOG completes quarterly independent assessments to track the implementation of a recommended security strategy for the agency. The recommendations address police and security staffing, procedures and training; fare enforcement; crime prevention; and technology.

Highlights in the third-quarter assessment include:

• the establishment of working relationships between law enforcement, Metro Transit and contracted security;
• the development of a training program that focuses on de-escalation of rider concerns. 
• improved communication between Metro Transit and partner agencies around fare enforcement;
• the development of security design criteria that will guide application of security concepts across the existing transit system and any future expansions;
• law enforcement access to the agency's closed-circuit television system;
• equipping all uniformed and field-deployed Metro Transit security specialists with body-worn cameras. 

The recommendations were agreed upon by area leadership, police partners and Metro Transit, and approved by the Bi-State Development’s board, which governs Metro Transit.