Turning up the heat on subway perverts, the MTA will put surveillance cameras in hundreds of
new train cars expected to be ordered in a few years. The MTA for the first time committed to
the security move in a letter to Public Advocate Letitia James made public. The MTA also will
make it easier for victims and witnesses to report sex crimes with a new portal on its website and
the authority will ramp up a public education campaign to increase awareness of sexual abuse,
James announced.
Earlier this year, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton told the Daily News he would like cameras
onboard because they are a useful crime fighting tool, providing evidence to detectives and
serving as a deterrent to bad guys. The MTA at the time said it was studying the possibility.
James urged the MTA to do more to curb abuse after a Daily News special report on subway
crime in July revealed the extent of the problem.
The News analysis revealed that women reported being victims of sex crimes, including groping
and flashing, more than 3,000 times between 2008 and 2013. The Nos. 4, 5 and 6 subway lines
were the worst lines, and a majority of incidents took place during the morning rush.
The MTA will install cameras on 752 R211 class subway cars it expects to order during the 2015-2019
capital plan. It already has contracted with Bombardier for 300 R179 class subway cars. The first R179
test cars should be delivered to the MTA in December. The rest of the R179s are set to arrive between
July 2015 and January 2017, according to an MTA status report on car purchases. The MTA is looking
to install cameras on the R179s, but is not yet making a commitment to do so, officials said.
Source: Daily News
new train cars expected to be ordered in a few years. The MTA for the first time committed to
the security move in a letter to Public Advocate Letitia James made public. The MTA also will
make it easier for victims and witnesses to report sex crimes with a new portal on its website and
the authority will ramp up a public education campaign to increase awareness of sexual abuse,
James announced.
Earlier this year, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton told the Daily News he would like cameras
onboard because they are a useful crime fighting tool, providing evidence to detectives and
serving as a deterrent to bad guys. The MTA at the time said it was studying the possibility.
James urged the MTA to do more to curb abuse after a Daily News special report on subway
crime in July revealed the extent of the problem.
The News analysis revealed that women reported being victims of sex crimes, including groping
and flashing, more than 3,000 times between 2008 and 2013. The Nos. 4, 5 and 6 subway lines
were the worst lines, and a majority of incidents took place during the morning rush.
The MTA will install cameras on 752 R211 class subway cars it expects to order during the 2015-2019
capital plan. It already has contracted with Bombardier for 300 R179 class subway cars. The first R179
test cars should be delivered to the MTA in December. The rest of the R179s are set to arrive between
July 2015 and January 2017, according to an MTA status report on car purchases. The MTA is looking
to install cameras on the R179s, but is not yet making a commitment to do so, officials said.
Source: Daily News