ABQ Ride has taken another step to ensure the safety its riders.
The city announced this week that real-time footage from the entire ABQ Ride fleet will be accessible to the Albuquerque Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center. More than 1,000 cameras across 245 vehicles will be added to the existing camera footage from all 23 ART stations, the Central and Unser Transit Center and the Alvarado Transit Center. This will allow police officers to view video footage on buses, adding a layer of security to Albuquerque’s public transit system.
Additionally, the transit department will work with the Department of Technology and Innovation and APD to install new cameras at the Uptown Transit Center, which will also be available to officers at the RTCC.
“Public safety is our top priority at APD, and having access to cameras on all city buses is another tool in our tool box to help fight crime,” said APD Chief Harold Medina. “Seeing what criminal activity is taking place in real time provides law enforcement the resources we need to better protect our community who use public transit.”
“It is crucial that each and every passenger, motorcoach operator and Sun Van chauffer feels safe when aboard a bus or Sun Van” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We are confident that the increase in access to ABQ Ride cameras at the Real Time Crime Center will do just that while helping us address crime in our city.”
