MTA Issues Surveillance Plan for LIRR & Metro-North

Collectively these two train systems hold an average of over 580,000 riders daily in Connecticut and New York. This is in relation to safety sanctions from the National Transportation Safety Board after the Bronx derailment in December, which killed four people. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal described the installment of cameras as "...long overdue...but I want to see acts and not just plans and dates certain by when it will be implemented".

The MTA plans to submit a proposal request. Potential vendors will be required to manufacture and construct an on-board video recording mechanism for its newest trains and cars. The camera's goal is to assist in deterring inappropriate behavior and assisting in post-accident examinations. MTA chairman Thomas Prendergast explained, "We will be systematically implementing recommendations put forward by the NTSB and other regulators to ensure the best practices are adhered to throughout the MTA family."

Frequently Metro-North has admitted that 2013 was its darkest year. Both transportation companies are collaborating with each other to acquire and swiftly implement superior train control mechanisms, which are constructed to automatically slow or halt a train before specific accidents happen, as described by the MTA. In addition to the Bronx tragedy, a Bridgeport derailment injured dozens of travelers last May. September's power shortage strained its service for almost two weeks, at the annoyance of its patrons who were forced to drive to work in tons of commuter traffic. President Joseph Guilietti recently stated, "Safety must come first at Metro-North...Safety was not the top priority. It must be and it will be". (Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/03/19/mta-to-install-cameras-audio-recorders-on-mnr-lirr-trains/)