Transportation Center Keeps New Parking Garage Secure

Working directly over the tracks had a problem of its own. The regularly scheduled trains could not be delayed to allow crews to mount and adjust the cameras. Roughly every 30 minutes, work was stopped and equipment removed as a train pulled into the station, boarded passengers and left. The interruptions would last from 10 to 15 minutes each.

“That wasn’t part of our original plan and could have been very costly to us as the contract called for penalties of $2,500 per day for not meeting the agreed upon deadline,” says Slaman. “Our crews made the necessary adjustments and the OCTA was very understanding and helpful with this.”

Despite these delays, the project was completed a week ahead of schedule.

Successful Template

A few months after the security project was completed, the OCTA invited law enforcement officials from six cities along the rail corridor in Orange County to tour the Irvine parking garage. The agency and other cities along the rail corridor are looking at using the Irvine project as a template.

“We’re currently in the planning stages of a new parking garage at the Tustin Metrolink station,” says Lora Cross, project manger for OCTA. “OCTA will act as the project manager for that project.”

She says work is underway to retrofit the Santa Ana station with video surveillance cameras. Also, there are plans to construct a new station and parking garage in Fullerton. The city will serve as the lead for that project, with OCTA providing funding from federal grants.

“I have to give a great deal of credit to the city of Irvine and the OCTA for generating an excellent plan for securing the parking garage and then having the flexibility to make adjustments as the project moved forward,” Slaman says. “That creates an environment in which a security integrator can help achieve the best results.” 

Larry Mays has more than 32 years of experience in consulting and the development of transportation industry mission critical information management systems. He has advised mass transit authorities, airlines and freight forwarders about systems integration and network infrastructure. He can be contacted at lmays@adt.com.