urbanSTL

I’m not sure I’m convinced on the train operator being equipped to stop or deter any issues. Though I’d be willing to test the 1 car solution if it doesn’t mess things up significantly logistically.

I had my phone stolen last year while sitting right behind the driver and there have a few incidents I have seen where people are harassing people, smoking, etc. and the drivers don’t do anything. I can speak only to my experience though.

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Jun 02, 2023

I’m not sure I’m convinced on the train operator being equipped to stop or deter any issues. Though I’d be willing to test the 1 car solution if it doesn’t mess things up significantly logistically.

I had my phone stolen last year while sitting right behind the driver and there have a few incidents I have seen where people are harassing people, smoking, etc. and the drivers don’t do anything. I can speak only to my experience though.

I hear you but incidents such as these where a group of folks are beating up rider - train operators should not be indifferent but call 911. I agree I have seen few operators could care less about these but there are also attentive operators. Incidents such as these are not acceptable. Metro should analyze and learn from these incidents and put measures in place. Things cannot keep on repeating.  BTW, I have been an avid metro rider since 20 years.

This is one reason I wish they'd go to continuous trains on their new order

^It depends a little on how you define "car." Each SD-400 is an articulated three truck affair, so a single "car" is quite long and has two somewhat visually distinct sections. It's not difficult to parse a sing unit as two cars if you squint just a little, but it's not uncommon even in heavyweight railroad parlance to think of a three truck articulated unit as a single car, particularly when there's a single, uninterrupted interior space as there is in this case. I don't know that there's any reason you couldn't operate three units as a train, but it's traditionally been two, with the bout of single unit operation last year. Anyway, I completely agree that the best solution is getting more butts in seats and more security on trains. And the gate system does precisely the opposite of that. It will discourage ridership and enable supporting PDs to simply wave their hands and say "Well, there's gates now, so we don't really need to assign so many officers anymore." I fear it will be a shitstorm of the worst sort, and metal detectors could completely kill it by making timely transfers virtually impossible. When the thing is a hybrid with a bus system it seems so pointless to do this crap anyway, since you can't really do any of this insanity to a bus and have a functional bus.

What do you all think of this video? On the surface, it seems like F around and find out. The guy filming it said "you took an oath" to the security guard. Do you take an oath as a security guard? I know many on here have called for Metro to enforce the rules and be more of a presence. 


https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/metrolink-security-officer-punches-stomps-man-after-incident-on-train-in-st-louis/article_573bac56-0cb9-11ee-bdc3-b3f9a55138d8.html

I was walking by this last night as the commotion was kind of winding down.

It certainly seemed excessive based on the condition the man was in.

That area near the metro stop / bus stop has been somewhat rough lately. I’m curious to see what the reaction will be be. Puts a new spotlight on metro security.

I always found it weird that I see more than 3 or 4 security guards on platform at Forest Park but they don't monitor or watch surrounding area up the stairs.

Were anyone able to attend yesterday's Zoom conference about secure platform plan? if so, what were the key take aways? Is there a recorded session?

This was May 31st

CMT Talking Transit Presents: A Discussion on Transit Safety in the Region

quincunx wrote: ↑

Jun 29, 2023

This was May 31st

CMT Talking Transit Presents: A Discussion on Transit Safety in the Region

thank you!

Here's the Zoom presentation from last night: 

jonkleinow wrote: ↑

Jun 29, 2023

Here's the Zoom presentation from last night: 

thank you!

Well we had lots of activity on the MetroLink in ESL today. A homicide at the Emerson Park Station and the Ribbon Cutting for the refreshed stop at 5th & Missouri.

CityLab - All Aboard the ‘Crime Train’ Narrative


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... rain-trope

^I literally have this debate with my wife. There's no winning.

sc4mayor wrote: ↑

Aug 30, 2023

Enterprise paying nearly $5 million to help fund MetroLink security improvements
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/bus ... -top-story

Centene put up $2 million.  Most of the big names in town gave something.

Thanks to these donors. I hope they made security recommendations in addition to monetary contributions. 

Why don't we see first level security personnel riding every single car? I see three or four personnel on station platform (watching their mobile phones and... i digress) which is an overkill. Instead I want to see those same personnel riding trains. I always message the number when I see something or hear loud music but response time is abysmal if at all there is any response.

Anyone else really hate the tall fencing and full-height turnstiles being planned? Feels less like you're trying to get on MetroLink and more like you're fleeing a zombie horde. Even something like this, being rolled out on the NYC subway, would feel less like you're entering a prison:
 
Metro in D.C. is rolling out higher faregates to prevent fare evasion but that still look reasonably welcoming: Metro begins rollout of new, higher faregates to stop fare evasion

^So with a bit of luck they will break down and require demolition in five to ten years?