TriMet to receive federal security grant

$560,000 in funding will add cameras on Portland, Gresham lines

The Portland Tribune, May 18, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (5 Reader comments)

Security at high-volume TriMet MAX stations serving Portland and Gresham will be improved under a $560,000 grant from the Transportation Security Administration.

The grant is earmarked for light rail closed-circuit television system improvements and expansion.

“This partnership with TSA will fund adding CCTV cameras to five Gresham area MAX stations: East 162nd Avenue, East 181st Avenue, Rockwood/East 188th Avenue, Gresham Central Transit Center and Cleveland Avenue, and upgrade CCTV at the Westside MAX tunnel,” said Fred Hansen, TriMet General Manager.

Security cameras provide a deterrant to crime and can also serve as a tool to aid in prosecution, according to Mary Fetsch, TriMet spokeswoman. "They're very busy locations and high priority," Fetsch said. "We've used video from cameras before to prosecute. They're a good resource for us."

Tri-Met currently has CCTV in place at all MAX stations with elevators. The grant program will allow TriMet to expand CCTV to busy stations and upgrade it at the Westside MAX tunnel.

Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has provided about $4.4 million to Portland through grants and equipment transfer programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The award is part of $14.2 million in grants to Tier II urban areas across the U.S. The funds are available through the Transit Security Grant Program, which is part of the Department’s Infrastructure Protection Program.

The program uses a two-tiered, risk-based approach that focuses on high risk and high consequence transit systems. Earlier this month, DHS announced $157 million in funding to Tier 1 urban areas, cities with high passenger density and rail systems with significant infrastructures, such as underwater tunnels and stations and ferry systems.

Urban areas that received funds in previous years, but were not eligible in Tier 1, qualified to apply and compete for TSGP Tier 2 funds.

“This award will help TriMet upgrade key security features in its transportation infrastructure, a prime goal of these grants," said Michael Irwin, TSA Federal Security Director. "DHS's two-tiered approach ensures that cities such as Portland have the opportunity to compete for grants that will make a significant difference in protecting transit passengers."

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit