DART steps up security

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has added more officer patrols and increased the number of security guards on its system, the agency announced yesterday.

DART assigned additional police officers to the West End Station, CBD West Transfer Center and Rosa Parks Plaza, which are three of DART's busiest locations, agency officials said in a press release.

On the West End Station platform, the number of weekday police officers has increased to four. Additionally, DART is deploying 29 contracted and uniformed security guards at "strategic rail platforms," agency officials said. Plans call for another 30 guards in 2018.

Meanwhile, DART's board yesterday approved a resolution that calls for expanding the use of cameras at transit facilities and on vehicles.

The board is reviewing plans for installing cameras in all 163 light-rail vehicles in DART's fleet. Currently, the agency has cameras installed on 19 rail cars and is installing cameras on 29 of its newest cars.

DART rail platforms and buses already have cameras.