More CTA Stations Get Video Cameras
By Lindsey Miller in News on Jan 26, 2010 10:00PM
The CTA's plans to have at least one high-definition camera installed at every rail station by this summer continue moving forward. This week, the org came a little closer to that goal by installing cameras at 24 Green Line stations. The system now has 1,657 cameras installed at 73 rail stations; there are 144 total stations. The CTA is also launching a pilot program this spring to determine how feasible it is to retrofit existing rail cars with cameras. New rail cars come equipped with cameras already installed.
The funding for the cameras comes from a combination of the Regional Transportation Authority, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security. The latter contributed $22.6 million to the CTA to enhance its security and surveillance network. The rail car pilot program's funding comes from $800,000 in FTA grants. According to a press release from the CTA:
"We are pleased that the federal government recognizes the importance of having these tools available at transit agencies and provides funds that allow us to install cameras to help further protect the CTA and the City," said CTA President Richard L. Rodriguez. "The cameras across CTA's rail system make real-time video available to CTA's Control Center, the Chicago Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management and Communication. This real-time video allows emergency personnel to assess situations and respond accordingly whether it's a service disruption or a medical or police emergency."
All CTA buses have cameras on board already which recently made news with the release of a video that showed a man getting struck and killed by a CTA bus in September. The video is being used in a wrongful death suit brought by the man's family. The Tribune has the (graphic) video.