MTA board OKs $7.8 million contract for cameras on Metro-North's M7 cars

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) board late last week approved a $7.8 million contract with Bombardier Transportation to install onboard cameras on MTA Metro-North Railroad's M7 fleet.

The contract covers 334 rail cars, according to an MTA staff summary of the project.

The cameras will be used to monitor the engineer's control area, track, wayside and passenger areas, The Journal News reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for onboard cameras since Metro-North's fatal train derailment in the Bron, N.Y.,  in 2013.

Metro-North has 1,256 pieces of rolling stock equipment requiring positive train control (PTC) and onboard camera systems.

In September 2015, the MTA awarded Bombardier a contract to install onboard vehicle PTC kits on the M7 fleet. It was then recommended that the company complete installations for the camera systems, as well.

Combining both installations will create efficiencies and maximize fleet availability, MTA officials said in the staff summary.