TriMet adds cameras, officers to MAX security

Federal grant will pay for more surveillance at eastside stations

The Portland Tribune, Sep 29, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (13 Reader comments)

Kevin Harden / Pamplin Media Group

TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen talked with fifth-graders from Portland’s Sunnyside Environmental School at the PGE Park light-rail platform Monday, Sept. 29, before a press conference to promote new TriMet security measures. The students were on their way to the Oregon Zoo and peppered Hansen with questions about the transit agency.

TriMet will use a $1.1 million federal grant to add more video cameras at six light-rail stations from Gresham to Hillsboro.

The regional transit agency also announced plans Monday morning to add 15 new officers to the transit police units in local departments along the light-rail lines. TriMet will now have 58 officers in the Transit Police Division, doubling what the agency had a year ago.

“TriMet has taken numerous steps over the past 10 months to increase security on our buses and MAX trains,” said Fred Hansen, TriMet general manager. “People are seeing a difference, but I want to do more to ensure the safety and integrity of the system as we expand transit options and have record numbers of people riding our buses and trains.”

The six new closed-circuit video cameras will be installed by early next year on TriMet light-rail stations at Gresham City Hall, Ruby Junction/East 197th Avenue, East 172nd Avenue, East 148th Avenue, Willow Creek/Southwest 185th Avenue and Quatama/Northwest 205th Avenue.

When the cameras are installed by February, TriMet will have closed-circuit video views of every light-rail station in Gresham. Right now, 41 of the system’s 64 MAX stations have the cameras. Several cameras will be added to each platform.

Five of the additional transit police officers will be added to the Eastside Division, bringing the total there to 15 officers who will cover all shifts seven days a week — in both uniforms and plain clothes.

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