BART outfitting remainder of fleet with cameras

In order to increase security on BART, the project to ensure that every train car in the BART fleet will be outfitted in security cameras has begun. The new cameras will augment BART’s existing network of security infrastructure which includes current surveillance in trains, on platforms, outside stations, inside stations, and on police officers themselves.

The digital cameras will be installed on a regular basis during maintenance hours, without disrupting service. The project will cost $1.42 million, which will come from BART’s operating budget. Additional federal funds could be applied for in order to cover a portion of the cost depending on availability.

The useful life of the new digital cameras is between six and seven years, which coincides with the final decommissioning of the old fleet; BART will get the full value of the new equipment at no loss.

Public transportation is a safe and effective way to travel, and BART constantly looks to improve security as technology improves and comes down in cost – at or above the pace of comparable transit agencies across the United States. The original in-train camera deployment included a mix of real and decoy cameras, installed during the late 90s and early 2000s before the wide use of digital recording, which was primarily effective as a deterrent against vandalism.

“The security of our riders is important to us, and builds a foundation for public trust,” said BART spokesperson Alicia Trost. “We are responsive to safety concerns, and are confident these steps will effectively address them as our needs have evolved.”

BART’s new train cars, in production and set to arrive next year, are designed with built-in cameras.