METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Calif.-based Metrolink's camera program to move forward

This state court challenge is separate from BLET's federal challenge which Metrolink won in the federal court on similar motions and which the BLET appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

June 3, 2011
1 min to read


The Honorable Luis Lavin granted Metrolink's motion for summary judgment in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen's (BLET) state court challenge to the inward-facing camera/video program.

BLET's state law theories alleged that the Metrolink camera/audio policy violates due process, violates the engineers' right to privacy and is preempted by state law. The Court found that the BLET's due process claims were without merit, that no reasonable trier of fact could find in BLET's favor and impose liability for invasion of privacy, and that there is no state preemption of Metrolink's camera policy.

Ad Loading...

"Metrolink's goal is to be the safest passenger railroad in the country. We're pleased that the state courts have joined the Federal courts in allowing our pioneering camera program to move forward," said Metrolink Board Chairman Richard Katz. "We have great respect for our engineers and crews and will work with them on their privacy concerns. But the safety of our passenger and those crews will always come first."

This state court challenge is separate from BLET's federal challenge which Metrolink won in the federal court on similar motions and which the BLET appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

In October of 2009, Metrolink was the first railroad in the nation, passenger or freight, to install inward-facing cameras.

 

More Rail

MTA Advances Accessibility Improvements in Brooklyn
Paratransitby StaffJune 17, 2026

New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility

Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.

Read More →
Six-Year Plan Boosts Virginia Transit, Rail Investments
Managementby StaffJune 17, 2026

Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail

Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.

Read More →
Security and Safetyby StaffJune 16, 2026

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades

Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An LA Metro D Line train in Union Station
Managementby StaffJune 16, 2026

D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System

Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.

Read More →
A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering of the Amtrak New York Penn Station renovation
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.

Read More →
Groundbreaking event for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 TBM construction.
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.

Read More →
A man sits in a passenger rail seat and looks at his phone.
Railby Elora HaynesJune 8, 2026

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow

What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →