ST. CLAIR COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT INCREASES OFFICER PRESENCE ON METROLINK

Safety of Passengers and Operators Remain Top Priority

The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) announced it has secured 68 part-time, secondary deployment officers to help augment the 15 full-time St. Clair County Sheriff Deputies currently assigned to the St. Clair County segment of the MetroLink alignment. This will provide a noticeable difference in onsite officer presence and act as a deterrent to unlawful and/or improper behavior on and around the system. This deployment is made possible through a partnership with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and Metro Transit Public Safety.

All secondary deployment officers were onboarded by Sheriff Rick Watson and his leadership team. Each will work to enforce Metro Transit’s Passenger Code of Conduct. They have full arresting authority, are able transport violators to jail and can determine if individuals have active or outstanding warrants.

“We have recently seen an uptick in issues along the Illinois portion of the MetroLink alignment despite the fact that core ridership is still down – and we are committed to addressing these issues immediately,” said Herb Simmons, Chair of the SCCTD Board of Trustees. “It is our job to deliver safe, effective transportation options for residents and tourists throughout St. Clair County. We believe increased officer availability will serve as a deterrent to unruly behavior and help to increase the safety and security of both passengers and operators.”

Bi-State Development President and CEO Taulby Roach adds, “Elected officials and the public asked us to continue to build on our collaborative relationships with our law enforcement partners so there is an increased police presence on the Metro Transit system. This expanded partnership with the St. Clair County Transit District and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department is another key step in responding to that request so riders feel safer on the transit system.”

Safety is a top priority for the St. Clair County Transit District and Metro Transit. Within the last 12 months, bright, LED lighting has been installed on all MetroLink platforms in Illinois.