Sacramento transit agency boosts security at Blue Line rail station

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) has installed 14 new surveillance cameras at the Watt/Interstate 80 station on the Blue Line light-rail route.

Crews also installed a new gate to limit access to the elevators and stairwell when light-rail service ends each day. The upgrades are aimed at boosting security at the agency's "most challenged station," SacRT officials said in a press release.

In late June, a Sacramento sheriff's deputy was shot in the face at the station, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Several cameras can be remotely monitored by security staff. As a result, the entire station is now visible to SacRT's security operations center via surveillance video. The security center expanded to a 24/7 operation in early July.

"We are committed to making the Watt/I-80 Station a facility we can all be proud of," said SacRT General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Henry Li. "We have been proactive by increasing the number of sworn officers dedicated to patrolling the station, and have hired additional armed guards to further expand coverage."

Sacramento police also encouraged riders to download the Alert SacRT app, which allows riders to discreetly send texts, pictures and video directly to transit police services if they see suspicious or criminal activities. The app was launched in September 2016.