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February
4,
2003 |
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MTA Begins Testing SegwayT Human Transporters for Security Details at Key Transit Stations and Facilities
Security
patrol officers at key MTA transit stations and facilities will be able to
better monitor sites and increase their visibility thanks to an MTA pilot
project to test SegwayT
Human Transporters (HTs) in security patrols. In
the first transit use of these electric-powered personal mobility
devices in Los Angeles, MTA, along with the Los Angeles Sheriff's and
Police Departments, is placing the SegwayT
HTs into real-world use for six months at Union Station, the Rosa Parks
Metro Rail Station and the MTA's Regional Rebuild Center (RRC). MTA will
simultaneously evaluate the impact of public use of the devices on the
agency's bus and rail lines. Introduction
of the SegwayT
HT, an innovative, self-balancing personal transportation device bolsters
MTA's ongoing efforts to lead the introduction of cutting edge
technologies to solve key transportation challenges within the agency's
expansive, multi-modal transit system. "MTA
actively strives to lead the nation in innovative public transportation
solutions," said Roger Snoble, MTA CEO. "Personal mobility devices
will surely play a part in our transportation future, and we want to be
among the first in evaluating these technologies." The
pilot project is part of MTA's Transportation Demand Management Program,
which initiates projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion and SegwayT
HTs are expected to allow security officers to patrol three times the area
compared to officers on foot, thus reducing the number of security
officers required. They also raise the profile of security officers by
eight inches, allowing officers to be seen in large crowds of people. "Security
officers will be hard to miss," said Robin Blair, transportation
planning manager at MTA. "When trying to deter crime, the more visible
you are as an officer, the better. One officer with a SegwayT
HT could do the work of three officers on foot. The potential cost-savings
would be substantial." The
sites selected for the test - RRC, Rosa Parks and Union Station, are
large complexes where quick movement from one location to another is
needed. Members of the Los Angeles Police Department will patrol Union
Station. Rosa Parks Metro Rail Station, which connects the Metro Blue and
Metro Green Lines in South Central Los Angeles, will be patrolled by the
Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. MTA Transit Security will use the SegwayT
HTs to patrol the RRC, the agency's downtown bus maintenance facility. The
device also will be used for security at special events, such as the Long
Beach Grand Prix and local street parades. The
SegwayT
HT is an entirely new transportation option that will help people connect
to transit options and provide an alternative to short-distance car trips.
MTA estimates that 1,000 of its transit riders use some kind of supporting
system, such as roller blades, skateboard or scooters when using public
transit. While that number is comparatively small, an increasing number of
personal mobility devices such as the SegwayT
HT are now coming to market. MTA will evaluate legal and policy issues as
well as infrastructure requirements as it prepares for this growing
market. Following the six-month evaluation period, MTA will determine
whether to increase its fleet of SegwayT
HTs for similar deployments. SegwayT
HTs are capable of traveling up to 12.5 mph, have a range of 10-15 miles,
and can carry 75 pounds of cargo in saddlebags. The device operates on
rechargeable batteries. Each unit can fully recharge in about six hours
from a standard 110-volt outlet after full depletion. MTA-014 |
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