Code Compliance Inspector, Ricardo Favela, checks a passenger’s transit fare during a routine inspection onboard an MTS Trolley.
San Diego MTS
2 min to read
Code Compliance Inspector, Ricardo Favela, checks a passenger’s transit fare during a routine inspection onboard an MTS Trolley.
San Diego MTS
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System launched a new Security Staffing Plan aimed at making the system safer by restructuring the composition of MTS’ security personnel and making changes to their deployment schedule. The plan was fully implemented this month.
“Passenger safety is a top priority for MTS,” said Paul Jablonski, MTS CEO. “The new security staffing plan will add a greater uniform presence on our system. This is another strategic step MTS has taken to boost system-wide security.”
The new plan increases the number of MTS Code Compliance Inspectors (CCI) from 34 to 64 employees. The additional CCIs will enable MTS to implement a beat system, where each beat will consist of three to five trolley stations patrolled by a “train team” made up of a security officer paired with a CCI. This new deployment strategy nearly triples the presence of CCIs at any given time. In a related move, the number of contracted security officers will be reduced to make room for the additional CCIs. MTS has approximately 200 CCIs and contracted security officers patrolling the system.
The train teams will allow MTS to increase uniform presence during the Day Watch, maintain the same uniform presence during the Night Watch, and give the system more access to greater enforcement capabilities. The beat system will allow security teams to patrol the same beat for an extended period of time to improve familiarity, and develop a better sense of the characteristics and customers at a limited number of stations.
This new security strategy builds upon the formation of the Joint Agency Task Force in 2015. This four-person team of police officers from different law enforcement agencies assists in patrolling the MTS system and provides support during special events, while helping bolster officer experience and powers of arrest.
The phased introduction of the cameras for station staff follows the successful rollout of the devices with TTC Special Constables and Provincial Offenses Officers in January 2025.
The plan includes investments in cleaner vehicles and upgraded stations, NJT LiveView to provide real-time GPS tracking of train and light rail service, enhanced safety initiatives through a new Real Time Crime Center, and the debut of a redesigned NJ TRANSIT mobile app.
New research from MTI shows a sharp increase in attacks on public-facing transit employees, with North America accounting for a significant share and bus drivers among the most affected.
BRIT patrols are over and above those already occurring within the district. For example, the agency experienced three copper wire thefts along the G Line in April, followed by others later in the month and in early May.
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Fred Ferguson, president and CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA), discussed how the industry prepares for emergencies, the growing recognition of motorcoaches as critical infrastructure, and steps operators can take to strengthen disaster readiness.
The approved contract modification will increase funding for transit security officer services to a total not-to-exceed amount of $32.1 million, ensuring a continued and visible security presence across DART’s buses, trains, stations, and facilities.
