ST. LOUIS – The company behind Metro transit is going to beef up its security measures in the wake of last weekend’s fatal shooting on a MetroLink train.
Bi-State Development told FOX 2 Wednesday morning they’re buying two walkthrough metal detectors that will be staffed by police officers, as part of a pilot program.
The metal detectors will be rotated to different stations in both Missouri and Illinois.
Taulby Roach, president and CEO of Bi-State Development, said the aim is to make both riders and employees feel safer and at ease when using public transit.
“This is a new security element and yet another tool we can use to enhance the Secure Platform Plan project moving forward to help make our mobile transit community safer,” he said.
Metro is also allocating between $500,000 and $750,000 in overtime money to have more police on MetroLink trains through August, when more riders are expected along the downtown corridor. Those officers will be coming from departments in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Clair County.
Bi-State is already in the works of doubling the number of security cameras on its platforms.
This comes after a 69-year-old allegedly shot and killed a 21-year-old man while the two were riding a MetroLink train headed to the Maplewood-Manchester station.
