In response to growing transit security concerns, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments initiated a system-wide security assessment for MetroLink in March 2018. This work was divided into two phases and is being completed by WSP-USA in close partnership with MetroTransit, Bi-State Development Agency (Bi-State), St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St. Louis County Police Department, and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.
Phase 1 was completed in early 2019 and included an inventory of the physical infrastructure and current policies and security practices on the MetroLink system. In addition, a group of four transit security professionals from around the nation offered their expertise and guidance as part of a peer review process. These efforts culminated in a report listing 99 recommendations to improve security on MetroLink. The recommendations covered six broad categories including –
- Security Strategy
- Police/Security Staffing
- Procedures and Training
- Fare and Fare Enforcement
- Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
- Technology
The recommendations document and other supporting documents from Phase 1 can be viewed below.
Phase 2, which began in March 2019, is the implementation of the 99 MetroLink Security recommendations through the development of a comprehensive Security Strategy and accompanying Security Plan.
WSP-USA has worked for nearly a year with a team representing Bi-State, MetroTransit, and the three law enforcement agencies responsible for securing and policing Metro’s system to ensure this plan has the support and practicality necessary to move forward.
In February 2020, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, St. Louis County Executive Same Page and St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern signed an agreement to support the Metro System Security Strategy.
The Security Strategy and supporting documents will be finalized in Spring 2020 and listed below as they become available.
- Metro System Security Strategy – January 2020
Phase 2 also included the development of a scorecard, which shows measurable progress toward implementing the 99 recommendations. Bi-State has been working to implement improvements to security over the past several months, and forward motion is apparent. The original scorecard was published in September, 2019, and quarterly updates will be completed by EWG and posted here.
