Public transit crime prevention, by the book

Railway Age, March, 1997 by William C. Vantuono

Public transit agencies spend a great deal of time and money to make their systems safe for customers, to whom security is often at least as important as accessibility and ontime performance.

Preventing Mass Transit Crime, a new, 262-page anthology, of original case studies on the effectiveness of crime prevention programs on transit systems in New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Paris, Vancouver, and several other large cities, is claimed by the publishers to be the first such book on the topic.

Edited by Prof. Marcus Felson and Dean Ronald V. Clarke of the Rutgers University (N.J.) School of Criminal Justice, Preventing Mass Transit Crime, Volume 6 of the Crime Prevention Studies Series, is available in hardcover from Criminal Justice Press, P.O. Box 249, Monsey, NY 10962, tel. (800) 914-3379. It's well worth the $47.95 price.

These are some of the case studies, which examine a broad spectrum of transit security issues:

I "Redesigning Hell: Preventing Crime and Disorder at the Port Authority (N.Y.) Bus Terminal." This case study examines how crime dramatically declined as the result of small yet numerous structural modifications to the terminal. Human movement patterns, say tile authors, relate directly to decisions on the part of criminals to commit criminal acts, and the modifications to the PA terminal suggest that crime can be "designed out" of a facility.

In "Safe Transport: Security by Design on the Washington Metro," takes another look at how crime can be designed out of a transit system. In the case of the Washington Metro, described by the authors as "one of the safest, relatively 'crime-free' subway systems in the world," crime prevention techniques were built into its original design. Thus, say the authors, the Metro represents "a comprehensive design that avoids the pitfalls and measures that are implemented after a crime problem has already emerged." Besides design, mro other factors contribute to the Metro's low crime rate: vigilant maintenance policies, and stringent law enforcement practices.

The Washington Metro's security enhancing design elements include long, wide platforms that facilitate crowd control and increase riders' perceptions of safety by ensuring an uncrowded environment; a minimal number of supporting columns--which can provide cover for criminals; high, free-standing vaulted ceiling arches that give the appearance of a wide-open design and criminals little room to hide; closed-circuit television cameras and at least one uniformed attendant at every station; and use of shorter trains in the evening (off-peak) hours, which keep people closer together--safety in numbers.

The Washington Metro example is being applied to the RATP's (Paris) new Meteor (Metro Est-Ouest Rapide) Line. "Designing for Security in Meteor: A Projected New Metro Line in Paris" details RATP's comprehensive security plan. The Meteor Line's security features are said to be "consistent with most recent developments in crime prevention strategies" now in practice on the Washington Metro and on the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway.

* "Target Hardening at a New York City Subway Station: Decreased Fare Evasion--at What Price?" evaluates the effect of the installation of "high wheel" (floor to ceiling) turnstiles at MTA New York City Transit's 110th Street and Lexington Avenue station. This design turnstile, the authors say, was found "somewhat effective in reducing fare evasion" (which results in the loss of an estimated $60-$80 million in annual revenue). This case study addresses the issue of whether the marginal success of such measures--which some say create a draconian, prison-like environment--justifies their detrimental effects on station aesthetics.

New York's subway system is examined in another light in "Where Angels Fear to Tread: A Test in the New York City Subway of the Robbery/Density Hypothesis." In this study, the incidence of subway robberies was found to be greater at low levels of passenger density. Reasons why the findings might not be applicable beyond the subway environment, as well as techniques for reducing subway robbery, are discussed.

Other chapters cover such topics as preventing auto theft in commuter parking lots, eliminating pay phone toll fraud, and whether or not crime is more likely to occur at or near a rapid transit station.

Another good source of information on transit crime prevention is the biannual Transit Policing: A Journal for the Transit Police Service (17800 East Colima Road, Suite 233, Rowland Heights, CA 91748), edited by Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff John P. Sullivan, a Railway Age contributor. Its editorial advisory board lists such transit police professionals as Long Island Rail Road Chief of Police John J. O'Connor, MARTA (Atlanta) Police Services Director Gene Wilson, Los Angeles MTA Chief of Transit Police Sharon K. Papa, British Transport Police (London) Chief Constable Desmond O'Brien, and Washington Metro Transit Police Commander Polly Hanson.