LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Metro is moving forward with plans to make its transit system safer using cutting-edge technology, including sensors that can detect if someone is carrying a weapon.
This week, Metro's board expanded safety measures, expanding its restroom testing program at two transit hubs and piloting weapons detection technology.
“As Metro chairman, my top priority is the safety of our riders and employees. With the board's unanimous approval, we are moving forward with concrete steps to make our system safer, including expanding our successful Tap to Exit pilot program, new strategies to keep our elevators safe and testing technology to detect individuals carrying weapons,” Superintendent Janice Hahn said in a statement.
“You can't bring weapons into Dodger Stadium, and you shouldn't be able to bring weapons on the subway,” she added.
The commission unanimously voted to expand the TAP-to-Exit pilot program from its terminus station, North Hollywood, to all 10 terminus stations.
Metro also plans to expand its Elevator Open Door pilot from 21 elevators to 57.
“Usually I have to use the elevators because they're kind of dodgy, but the elevators were clean,” Metro rider Mona Alexander said. “I was really impressed.”
“I live in Culver City so I take the Expo Line train a lot. This was my first time riding the Red Line since they added security and it was nice,” she added. “It was quiet and clean.”
The smart restroom pilot will expand from 10 locations to 64 stations and transit centers, with more restrooms coming online. Finally, the transit agency will pilot two weapons detection technologies at two train stations.
These measures are the result of a report requested by Supervisor and Metro Director Katherine Burger.
Violent crimes on Metro's bus and rail systems have led the commission to take steps to address public safety concerns, including adding more police officers to bolster security on the system.
Earlier this month, a man with a gun was taken into custody after a standoff on a Glendale Metro bus.
In late June, a man was shot and killed on an E-line subway train.
Many subway passengers, who ride the train regularly for the convenience and fare savings, were happy to hear about the new safety measures.
“I use it once a week,” said Elliot Deutsch. “I work for a company in Hollywood, but I live in Sunland, so I usually park in North Hollywood and come back from there. It's a lot easier than parking in Hollywood.”
The committee also asked officials to look at ways to improve the entire transit system and increase passenger safety.
The department will be trialing two weapons-detection systems: millimeter wave technology, which uses electromagnetic fields to identify metal objects, and a dual-lane system, which uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to detect weapons and other threats without requiring people to stop, empty their pockets or drop their bags.
Following a successful pilot of TAP-to-Exit at the North Hollywood B (Red) Line station, Metro plans to expand the program to more stations, starting with the E Line in Downtown Santa Monica in August. According to data collected by the agency, there were more than 25,000 instances of unpaid rides followed by a later payment upon exit, representing 11 percent of all TAP-to-Exits.
Fare sales at the North Hollywood station increased by 30 percent, or $100,000. About 100 people were surveyed, and 91 percent said they felt the station was cleaner and 86 percent said they felt it was safer.
The department is also preparing more elevator upgrades and an expansion of its restroom program. As part of the design, the department is incorporating opening-door elevators in three new Regional Connector stations and adding this type of elevator to three other stations.
Metro says the open-door elevators will help keep elevators cleaner and address concerns about strong odors. The restroom pilot program will begin in October 2023 at 10 locations.
A startup called “Throne” offered the authority restrooms at other locations, including the Westlake/MacArthur Park station on the B (red)/D (purple) line, the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station on the A (blue)/C (green) line, and the Norwalk station on the C line. The restrooms are free and can only be unlocked using a QR code or by sending a text message on a mobile phone.
Over the next four years, the agency will expand the program systemwide at a cost of $21.87 million. In 2025, Metro plans to add 20 restrooms at 30 locations, costing about $2.71 million, then add 34 more restrooms in 2026.
The agency is looking to modernize its fare gates with the goal of combating fare evasion and making it easier for riders to pay with credit and debit cards. It will test these new fare gates at three stations, one of which is the future LAX/Metro Transit Center. Stations under consideration to test the technology include Westlake/MacArthur Park, Universal City/Studio City, North Hollywood, Downtown Santa Monica, Norwalk, Union Station, 7th Street/Metro Center, Willowbrook/Rosa Parks and Pershing Square.
City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.
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