Sacramento, CA – Senator Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, released a statement Tuesday regarding BART’s acknowledgement of the lack of working security cameras on their trains.
“BART’s disclosure that 77% of their train cameras are fake or not working is another example of their lack of concern for rider safety.
“With one hand, BART had the money to pay exorbitant raises to their workers and managers, and now with the other hand they claim their pocket is empty for new trains and safety improvements.
“BART’s recent promise to add working cameras is a hollow cover-up for years of bad choices.”
Last Friday, BART issued the following announcement:
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.
Editors Note:
Just last week, Senator Glazer orchestrated a Press Conference with other local elected officials to announce potential opposition to any new BART taxes based on BART’s track record of strikes, financial mismanagement and security lapses.
He called on BART to negotiate before the 2016 election.
“BART has a lot of work to do before it can earn the trust of voters in November to pay for new taxes,” Glazer said. “We do need to invest in our worn down transportation system so it can serve the hundreds of thousands who depend on it for work, school and recreational pursuits.
“But we cannot reward bad behavior with more and more taxes. BART has eight months until the election to restore the public trust. There is a pathway to a successful reinvestment in the BART system. But it will require thoughtful leadership from BART management and their unions. Time is running out.”
BART has been working on a plan for a $3 billion bond measure in the Bay Area where it hopes to improve BART service and upgrade its trains after a poll last year showed 75-percent of the public would support the bond.
8 comments
Fake security cameras: effectively utilizing the widespread post-9/11 American paranoia-of-the-masses.
BART should use real cameras, but if they use fake ones, I wouldn’t announce it. Some things are better left unsaid.
It’s really disgusting! We’ve paid into the system for years through our taxes and they increase the fees to ride, the fees for parking, and what are we geting in return? A lack of security and the lack of caring for the riders. We are all just tickets, numbers, clipper cards. If they saw us as the brothers, mothers, kids we are, they would respect us enough to have proper security cameras. Misappropriation of funds is the obvious fact you’re here. Bart disappoints again… Trapped between a train and a jammed freeway.
People should learn to defend themselves. I’m glad the cameras are fake. Why be in favor of more surveillance? The cops got enough on their hands.
Of course people should defend themselves. But cameras can help to deter crime, and if you’re announcing they’re fake, it’s worse than having no cameras at all. WISE UP!
Must we keep demanding that our public servants be the ideal omnipresent, omniscient Big Brother all of the time?
Don’t we have enough already with the TSA, urban military swat convoys, the NSA, CIA, basic security guards, surveillance drones, military presence at home and abroad, the FBI, etc?
America, do you feel safe yet?
Love the way San Jose already has a BART station at Berryessa by 2017; meanwhile E-BART, not even close after 40 years.
Oh yes, Mr. Glazer, don’t forget all of BART’s mismanagement of constructions funds and their 19 million dollar bunk computer upgrade that they decided to test out during the height of the commute causing hours and hours of delays. BART is a shady company and needs to be audited. I will never vote for one more dime for BART because none of the funds wind up in East County that’s for sure. Meanwhile, we have to pay high commuter fees, parking fees, high property taxes, and these jokers want a Billion Dollar Bond on the ballot. NO THANK YOU.
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