Poindexter
02-04-2003, 09:00 PM
Segway(TM) Human Transporters Coming to L.A. County
MTA Begins Testing Segway Human Transporters for Security Details at
Key Transit Stations and Facilities
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Segway(TM) 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 Segway 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 Segway 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 improving efficiency for transit users. It is the same program which has piloted a myriad of now recognizable transit innovations -- Metro Rapid buses, high occupancy vehicle lanes, bike racks on buses, park and ride lots, and the Metro Freeway Patrol among them.
Segway 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 Segway 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 Segway 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 Segway 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 Segway 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 Segway HTs for similar deployments.
Segway 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.
SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Authority
"Anyone who wants to be a New Urbanist has never been Old Urbanist." Michael Poindexter (critic)
MTA Begins Testing Segway Human Transporters for Security Details at
Key Transit Stations and Facilities
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Segway(TM) 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 Segway 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 Segway 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 improving efficiency for transit users. It is the same program which has piloted a myriad of now recognizable transit innovations -- Metro Rapid buses, high occupancy vehicle lanes, bike racks on buses, park and ride lots, and the Metro Freeway Patrol among them.
Segway 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 Segway 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 Segway 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 Segway 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 Segway 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 Segway HTs for similar deployments.
Segway 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.
SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Authority
"Anyone who wants to be a New Urbanist has never been Old Urbanist." Michael Poindexter (critic)