St. Louis Area Leaders Sign Metro Transit Security Agreement
Date Posted: March 4, 2020
Posted In: News,
From Citizens for Modern Transit: An agreement that outlines a framework for providing a safer, more secure and more comfortable ride for Metro Transit customers was signed today by St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern and Bi-State Development President and CEO Taulby Roach at East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG), the planning organization that works to solve regional issues.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page also signed the agreement today (Feb. 26) but were unable to attend the signing ceremony.
The signing follows the memorandum of understanding signed by the individuals in those positions calling for action to improve security on MetroLink in March 2017.
Today’s event marked the culmination of two years of EWG assessing MetroLink security, then creating a systemwide security strategy together with area elected officials, Metro Transit, Bi-State Development, which operates Metro, and the three law enforcement departments that help patrol MetroLink – St. Louis County, the City of St. Louis and St. Clair County. “When we assessed Metro Transit, we found that the agency lacked a defined strategic security direction, plan, and program for its 46-mile MetroLink system,” said Jim Wild, Executive Director of East-West Gateway. “We made 99 recommendations for improving security. Then we initiated Phase Two. Thanks to all partners working together during the second phase, we now have a comprehensive security strategy for the entire Metro transit system that will improve both the customer and employee experience.”
The security strategy, which can be read in its entirety at www.ewgateway.org/metro has four major goals:
- To reduce the rate and perception of crime on the Metro system;
- To implement fare enforcement as a security tool;
- To engage all Metro employees and security contractors in securing the Metro system; and
- To identify and assess crime and other security threats to customers, employees, and property and to maximize security effectiveness.