September 11, 2009

TriMet opens new transit police precinct

Fourth precinct opens along the new MAX Green Line

Just one day before the MAX Green Line opens to Clackamas County, Clackamas County officials and police agency partners opened the South Precinct. The officials held a ribbon cutting event today before touring the new police facility located at the southern terminus of the Green Line at the Clackamas Town Center Transit Center.

Portland Police, TriMet and Clackamas County officials hold a ribbon cutting event to open the new South Precinct. This is TriMet's fourth transit police precinct and is located at the Clackamas Town Center MAX station park and ride garage. (L to R) Portland Police Assistant Chief Brian Martinek, Clackamas County Commissioner Bob Austin, TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen and Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts do the honors.

TriMet committed to creating a South Precinct in advance of opening the Green Line in its effort to increase security on the system. The precinct will have five dedicated officers: three Portland Police officers, a sheriff and a deputy from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. These officers will focus their patrols along the Green Line south of the Gateway Transit Center. Transit police officers from Central Precinct will cover the Green Line when the dedicated officers are not on duty.

"The location of the South Precinct is a two-fer: it's located at the end of the line so there’s quick and easy access to the MAX system, and it's built in the park and ride so there’s more security presence overall," said TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen. "It’s also gratifying to know that we put Oregonians to work to build this precinct."

TriMet pays for all law enforcement officers assigned to the Transit Police Division. Nearly every law enforcement agency within the tri-county area participates in the division.

"This precinct along with the other security investments will make it safer and easier for our citizens to ride light rail," said Clackamas County Commissioner Bob Austin. "This also represents a successful partnership with TriMet, the Portland Police Bureau and Clackamas County Sheriff's Office working together to enhance security."

Security enhancements

Over the past 18 months, TriMet has:

• Doubled the number of officers in the Transit Police Division – from 29 to 58
• Increased the officers’ presence on the system, with up to 70 percent of their time on the system
• Opened East and West precincts in addition to the Central Precinct located in downtown Portland
• Doubled the number of supervisors who do fare inspections, and added 46 other supervisors who do fare checks as part of their daily duties
• Added security cameras to all MAX Green Line stations along I-205 and the downtown Portland Transit Mall; cameras also added to bus stops along the Mall
• Built the Green Line with CPTED principles: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, including clear sightlines, good lighting and landscaping that does not create hidden spaces

Construction details

Construction of the South Precinct began in May 2009 and was funded through federal stimulus dollars (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or ARRA). The 2,100-square-foot facility cost $560,000 to build, employed two dozen people that were either laid off or would have lost their job without this project, and supported another 70 jobs. The precinct includes office space and two plumbed holding cells.

About the Green Line – opening on Sept. 12

TriMet's fifth MAX line to be built–the Green Line–will add 8.3-miles of light rail between Gateway Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center, and to 5th and 6th avenues in downtown Portland between Union Station and PSU. It's the first light rail extension into Clackamas County. It will serve the heart of downtown Portland and the busiest transit destination in the TriMet system—PSU.