Capital Metro heightens security as system grows

How safe are Capital Metro buses? It is currently unclear because there are no statistics available. But as the Capital Metro transportation system grows, security measures are being increased.

According to the 2014 Capital Metro operating and capital budget, Capital Metro is looking to bring more security cameras to their agency properties as well as launching a new program called OrbCad. It is system to be put in security vehicles, designed to improve the efficiency of dispatching security officers to their services which receive more than 100,000 weekly boardings.

The new OrbCad system is designed to help shorten response time by using GPS to allow dispatchers to send the closest unit to the scene.

“Officers will be able to do their own follow-up on calls for service, increasing the accuracy of information in the system and reduce the time dispatchers now spend updating calls for service,” Capital Metro manager of security John Jones said. “In emergencies, the system allows officers to ‘see’ real-time exactly where our equipment is located anywhere in the area.”

Currently, Capital Metro has 22 employed security officers. They are off-duty Austin Police Department officers who work part-time for Capital Metro. Capital Metro security and employed APD officers are in charge of regularly monitoring bus stops and responding to incidents.

According to Jones, the number of security officers varies during a 24-hour time period and is parallel with peak transit time for the agency. It can range anywhere from three officers between 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. to approximately 12 to 15 between 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition to the officers, Capital Metro has various measures to increase and improve security. Officials require new drivers to complete 80-hours of security training and a refresher training every six months and also have security equipment on buses.

“About 54 percent of the fixed-route fleet is camera equipped,” Jones said. “MetroRapid vehicles are also camera equipped, operators have undergone extensive, specialized training to operate the larger vehicles.”

Despite its security measures, Capital Metro security has received some criticism in their response time. Capital Metro bus driver Robert O, who did not give his full name for fear of reprisal, believes Capital Metro security does poorly.

“Half of the time, by the time they get there, the problem has been solved,” Robert said. “We mostly prefer to call APD because they do a better job than metro security.”

In the 17 years he has been a bus driver for Capital Metro, he has come across situations, which include being hit by a passenger, but has felt able to handle everything because of his prior experience in the military.

“Everything that can happen on the bus can happen on the bus,” Robert said. “Several times, times in the past where two different gangs have gotten into fist fight, it was six individuals, and I have even helped deliver a baby.”

A Capital Metro bus driver who was waiting for her shift to start on Congress and Second Street and who would not give her name for fear of reprisal said that if there is a problem, security officers respond quickly at the press of a button and everything is resolved quickly.

“If anyone harms a driver or passenger they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law because they do not put up with that,” she said. “They are a good company to work with because they take care of us.”

Blanca Landin, a University of Texas at San Antonio international business student witnessed racial discrimination back in 2011 when she was riding a Capital Metro bus on Sixth and Congress.

“A Middle Eastern mom and her kids were boarding, and an African American guy when they were boarding as each kid passed by he said, ‘Bomb No. 1, bomb number two, bomb number three,” Landin said. “The driver immediately told him to stop and get off the bus.”

She said that the man refused to get off and security was called and responded quickly since their offices where nearby. They immediately took him out of the bus.  She believes the situation was handled efficiently and that she is safe while riding the bus.

“I know if there is a problem or something you need the bus driver is always there,” Landin said.

Capital Metro was reached for crime statistics, but they were unable to provide them before the deadline.

This story was written for a class assignment in February 2014.