MTA Approves Security Cameras for L.A. Subway and Light-Rail
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA") has approved almost $7 million to install state-of-the-art digital cameras on Los Angeles' subway and light-rail trains.
The high-resolution digital cameras will be capable of panning and zooming in "on suspicious people and objects." Although the new system will still need human intervention, in terms of MTA staff monitoring the images from the cameras, the MTA plans to eventually have cameras that flash a warning when suspicious activity is noticed.
The MTA already has cameras on its buses (a la the blockbuster film Speed) and train stations, but the new upgrade will place cameras on all of MTA's subway and light-rail trains. The MTA plans on recording and storing all images from these cameras. It is unclear how long the images will be stored and what safeguards will be in place to protect the stored data.
The MTA's announcement follows reports earlier this week that Lockheed Martin Corp. has been awarded a $212 million contract (30 times the amount budgeted for the LA camera system), to create a security system for the subway, commuter rail lines, bridges and tunnels of New York City. Under the New York plan, 1000 video cameras and 3000 motion sensors will be installed, and cellphone service will be enabled in 277 underground stations.
Posted by K.M. Das