Metro expands security measures, pilots weapons detection technology

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Metro is moving ahead with plans to make its public transit system safer using advanced technology, including sensors that can detect if someone is carrying a weapon.

This week, Metro’s Board of Directors expanded its safety efforts, including expanding a restroom pilot program and introducing weapon detection technology at two of its transit hubs.

“My top priority as Metro chair is the safety of our riders and our employees. With the unanimous approval of our board, we will move forward with concrete actions to make our system safer, including expanding the successful tap-to-exit pilot program, implementing new strategies to keep our elevators safe and testing technology to detect people carrying weapons,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement.

“You can’t bring guns into Dodger Stadium and you can’t bring them on the subway,” she added.

The council voted unanimously to expand the agency’s TAP-to-Exit pilot program from one terminal station (North Hollywood Station) to all 10 terminal stations.

Metro is also expanding its Elevator Open-Door pilot from 21 to 57 elevators.

“Usually the elevators are pretty iffy and I had to use the elevators … and they were clean,” said subway rider Mona Alexander. “I was very impressed.”

“I live in Culver City, so I take the train, the Expo Line, a lot, and this is my first time on the Red Line since they tightened up the security and it was nice,” she added. “It was quiet, it was clean.”

More restrooms are also coming online as the company expands its Smart Restroom pilot from 10 to 64 stations and transit centers. Finally, the transit agency will test two weapons detection technologies at two of its train stations.

These measures were the result of a report requested by Supervisor and Metro Director Kathryn Barger.

In light of the violent crimes that have occurred on Metro’s bus and train systems, the board has taken steps to address public safety concerns, including adding more police to the system to improve safety.

Earlier this month, a man with a gun was arrested after a confrontation on a Metro bus in Glendale.

At the end of June, a man was shot dead on an E-line metro train.

Metro passengers are happy with the new safety measures. Many people regularly travel by train for convenience and to save money.

“I take it once a week,” Elliot Deutsch said. “I work in a place in Hollywood, but I live in Sunland, so I usually park in North Hollywood and come in. It’s a lot easier than parking in Hollywood.”

The board also asked staff to investigate how the public transportation system as a whole can be improved and passengers’ sense of security increased.

The agency will test two systems to detect weapons: millimeter wave technology and a Dual-Lane System. The former uses electromagnetic fields to identify metallic objects, and the latter has advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to detect weapons and other threats without requiring individuals to stop, empty their pockets or remove their bags.

Following successful results from the TAP-to-Exit pilot at the North Hollywood B (Red) Line station, Metro will expand the program to additional stations, starting with the downtown Santa Monica E Line in August. According to data collected by the agency, there were more than 25,000 unpaid rides that were subsequently paid upon exit, representing 11% of total tap-outs.

Ticket sales at North Hollywood Station increased by 30%, or $100,000. About 100 people were surveyed and 91% said they thought the station was cleaner and 86% felt safer.

The agency is also preparing to make improvements to more of its elevators and expand its bathroom program. As part of the design, the agency has incorporated open-door elevators into its three new Regional Connector stations and added these types of elevators to three other stations.

Metro says the open-door elevator will enable cleaner elevators and address concerns about strong odors. The pilot program for bathrooms began in October 2023 at 10 locations.

A startup called “Throne” provided the agency with restrooms, located at the Westlake/MacArthur Park station on the B (red)/D (purple) lines; the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station on the A (blue)/C (green) lines; and the Norwalk station on the C line; among other hubs. The restrooms are free and can only be unlocked with a QR code or by sending a text message with a cellphone.

Over the next four years, the agency will roll out a $21.87 million systemwide expansion of the program. In 2025, Metro plans to add 20 restrooms at 30 locations, costing about $2.71 million — followed by 34 additional restrooms in 2026.

The agency will modernize its gates to combat fare evasion and make it easier for travelers to pay with credit or debit cards. Three stations will test these new gates, one of which will be the future LAX/Metro Transit Center. Stations eligible to test the technology include: Westlake/MacArthur Park; Universal City/Studio City; North Hollywood; Downtown Santa Monica; Norwalk; Union Station; Seventh Street/Metro Center; Willowbrook/Rosa Parks; and Pershing Square.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.