Chicago’s Metra Police launched a new pilot program using remotely operated drones to monitor its rail lines and facilities, improving safety and security throughout the system and reducing response times to critical incidents along the railroad.

“When an incident occurs along the railroad, our response times can be hampered by street traffic and distance,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “These drones and their expanded capabilities allow us to quickly get eyes on the scene and accurately assess the situation, so law enforcement, employees, and partner agencies can respond safely and effectively. They can also be used to assist our partners at CTA and Pace during service disruptions and security incidents if they are within range of our drones.”

The project is funded through a $620,000 grant from FEMA’s Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), which provides transit agencies with funding for projects intended to protect critical transportation infrastructure and the traveling public.

Metra’s Drone Pilot

Under the pilot program, Metra has purchased three Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drones and stationed them at its 18th Street Yard facility on the Metra Electric Line and its Western Avenue Coach Yard. The drones are controlled remotely and monitored by Metra Police officers who are licensed drone pilots.

The drones are equipped with high-definition video, 3-D rendering, and infrared capabilities with a flight range of approximately three miles. When needed, Metra can also share drone visuals with first responders, partner agencies, and the more than 100 communities Metra serves, agency officials said.

Metra Police have had a drone unit for several years, using both tethered and piloted drones that require officers on-site to operate.

The drone program has helped Metra Police transform incident response operations by collecting data, saving time, and providing responders with a livestream of the scene. They have also been deployed to monitor crowds during large events and improve safe crowd management at our facilities.

The drones tested under the new pilot program are operated remotely, therefore, enabling even faster responses and assessment capabilities.

Leveraging Tech to Improve Safety

Leveraging technology to improve safety for Metra’s passengers, employees, and the community aligns with Northern Illinois Transit Authority’s mandate to improve public safety and coordinate incident response across the Chicago region’s public transit network, said Metra officials.

The agency added that it also envisions using these drones to assist with infrastructure inspections, emergency response training, parking lot and station capacity inspections, storm damage assessments, and more.

Metra has already applied for another round of TSGP funding to expand the drone network to additional sections of the railroad, with the initial focus on trespassing “hot spots,” rail yards, and construction sites.