Officials in the region have agreed upon a new joint law enforcement task force and a unified 911 system as part of an overall system to improve safety for MetroLink riders. (Photo courtesy of MetroStLouis.org)

The Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners, which oversees the St. Louis area’s MetroLink light rail system, on May 19 unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with St. Clair County, the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, outlining plans to improve safety and security on the system’s trains and station platforms.

As anticipated, the plan calls for creation of a new joint law enforcement task force, made up of officers from all three of the jurisdictions served by the transit system, and officers from each jurisdiction authorized to operate in all three areas, according to a Bi-State press release.

The plan also calls for a new unified 911 police radio communication system that can receive calls or texts for assistance from MetroLink passengers and then

Bi-State President and CEO John Nations

dispatch law enforcement personnel on the task force.

However, the four-page memorandum leaves many key details of the program in question.

It calls only calls for Bi-State to study implementation of turnstiles or other measuring units to limit access to trains — even though both St. Clair County and St. Louis officials have made such measures a top-drawer demand.

The MOU also does indicate how costs for the new security measures will be covered.

While St. Louis County voters in April approved a law enforcement sales tax, St. Clair County voters turned down a similar measure. St. Louis City officials acknowledged last week they are facing loss of more than 100 officers due to low pay.

The memorandum was signed May 18 by St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and forward to Bi-State for approval.

Bi-State President and CEO John Nations signed the MOU the following a special meeting called the next day “to discuss public safety issues requiring action by the Board of Commissioners without delay,” according to the agency’s website.

It comes following several weeks of negotiations between Bi-State and the three major jurisdictions served by the transit system.

“The Memorandum of Understanding gives us the commitment from the jurisdictions we serve, that they are dedicating financial resources as well as their law enforcement personnel to keep MetroLink riders and employees safe on the system,” Bi-State Director of Communications Patti Beck said in an email.

The MOU spells out specific staffing goals that will be established for the new transit security task force by St. Clair County, St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis. It includes an evaluation of roles, delineation of authority and establishment of oversight and accountability structures, according to a press release issued on the agreement by St. Louis County.

The MOU also calls for the creation of a Transit Advisory Working Group consisting of prosecutors from St. Louis County, St. Louis and St. Clair County, law enforcement leaders from those three jurisdictions, representatives of Amalgamated Transit Union Local Number 788 and of Citizens for Modern Transit.

However, officials have yet to publicly indicate exactly how many law enforcement officers St. Clair County or the other participating jurisdictions will have to assign to MetroLink security.

The MOU stipulates that Bi-State cannot decrease its level of publicly funded security services, rail-related safety personnel or contract safety personnel “without the urging of the task force.”

It also specifies that Bi-State will not directly employ law enforcement officers and will only employ security officers.

The security plan comes following a rash of violent incidents, including two fatal shootings, on MetroLink trains or platforms over recent months. The latest incident occurred last week in Metro East.

An eastbound train carrying 20 passengers was struck by eight-to-10 rounds of gunfire May 16, at around 10:40 p.m., near the Emerson Park MetroLink station in Washington Park, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.

Passengers told deputies they had to take cover on the floor of the train after hearing a total of six to ten gunshots and bullet holes began appearing in window glass.

Investigators found eight bullet holes in glass or siding on the right side of the train.

Deputies examined the train at Fairview Heights MetroLink station, 9200 St. Clair Ave., just east of the Washington Park station, where the operator stopped and called assistance.

No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department is offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to apprehension of the shooter.