|
|
|
|
Metro Safety
Initiatives for Commuters
On July 17,
Deputy Chief Jan Mader of the Metro Transit Police briefed the Interagency
Working Group on Federal Workplace Emergencies on the new initiatives
to ensure the safety of commuters when traveling on the Metro System.
Because so many of our employees use the Metro System, we felt that
it was important to provide you with the initiatives that Metro
is taking to ensure your safety. Below are just some of the things
that are currently in place or are being implemented:
Metro currently
has 374 transit policemen and 128 civilian personnel employed with
their system. The entire authority consists of 10,000 personnel
and is responsible for 1,500 square miles. There are 35 stations
servicing 1.1 million people each day. About 47% of the Federal
workforce uses Metro.
Metro began
enhancing security in 1995 following the serine gas attack on a
Tokyo subway.
A Chemical
Detection System has been set up which includes the installation
of chemical sensors.
Stations are
monitored by a central control system and can give the exact location
of a situation. Metro also relies on its riders to be observant
and to "spot" and report problems.
Training initiative
of unknown substance process, standard operating procedures and
1st responder emergency training is held at their facility in Landover,
MD.
Police officers
are equipped with escape masks and additional personal protective
equipment. Their Explosive Ordnance Unit has portable chemical detectors
and uses dogs to examine suspicious packages.
The Command
Center is located in their downtown facility; however, they are
currently working on a backup command center in Landover, MD.
For your
safety:
Automatic vehicle
locators will be installed on buses in the fall. This will provide
information on the exact location of a bus. Previously, they could
only follow the bus route to determine its location.
The public
address system has been upgraded so customers can hear the announcements
better.
The platform
where riders wait to board the trains contains a 48-inch open space
underneath. Should you fall off the platform, you can roll under
and be protected until help can assist you back up to the platform.
There is an 18-inch clearance under the train so if you fall on
the tracks, you can lie flat and wait for the train to pass.
Pay phones
have been installed on the platforms. Currently, the only cellular
phone service that works in the tunnels is Verizon.
Emergency intercoms
are located on the platforms to enable communication with the station
manager.
There is a
call button at the end of each car to enable communication with
the train operator. The doors at each end of the train are unlocked
so you can move out of that car; however, the operator's door is
locked. Instructions to open the exit doors in an emergency are
posted in each car.
If you must
make an emergency exit from the train while in a tunnel, use the
walkway on the side with the lights. There is an emergency call
box every 800 feet.
Some of the
internal security initiatives include:
Employee
ID card system
Alarm system
upgrades at rail yards
Emergency
preparedness drills
Metro participates
on the FBI joint terrorism task force
Simulated
emergency exercises are conducted
Communication
is very important. Metro often distributes "Dear Fellow Rider"
brochures that give information on things happening in the Metro
system. Deputy Chief Mader encourages everyone to read them to stay
updated on changes. He also recommended paying attention to their
"Safety in Numbers" posters.
For more information,
you may visit the following Web site:
http://www.wmata.com/riding/safety/emergency_preparedness.cfm
|
|
