Colts securing new mass transit hub with IP video
The County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) is the municipal authority for public transport in the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. COLTS secures its new $12.5 million intermodal facility and keeps passengers safe with the Security Center Omnicast™ IP video surveillance system.
The company
COLTS is the municipal authority for public transport in the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. COLTS operates 29 public bus routes through Lackawanna County and parts of Luzerne County, and provides specialty transportation for disabled and senior passengers. The company recently completed construction on the Lackawanna Transit Center, a $12.5 million intermodal facility in downtown Scranton.
The challenge
The new facility is now the central transport hub, where passengers are provided shelter and seating while they wait for buses. COLTS decision-makers knew that having a state-of-the-art security system at its new intermodal facility would help protect the influx of passengers who visit the center from various locations in the United States, and ensure passenger safety in and around the terminal.
The solution
Easy remote monitoring
“We have a remote connection to the system which we can access from our desks to spot check and see what’s going on at the facility. The system has been very easy to use,” said Fiume.
Convenient tenant privileges
COLTS’ tenant, Martz Trailways, has been given access to the video surveillance system. Agents use the video to check when buses arrive and announce information to passengers.
Mobile access to video
If managerial staff are away from the office when an incident is reported, they can quickly pull up video from their phones using the Security Center Mobile feature.
Collaborating with police
COLTS works with the Scranton Police Department, who also use Genetec solutions. With a federated system, officers will be able to access video from certain cameras during emergencies.
“The Genetec platform has also been instrumental in helping our organization collaborate with other city stakeholders such as law enforcement, which keeps residents and visitors to Scranton safer.”
Robert Fiume, Executive Director, COLTS
Results
The Omnicast IP video surveillance system of Security Center currently manages over 30 Bosch IP cameras in and around the property. The operational staff at COLTS actively monitor the cameras from a primary corporate site and bus terminal which is located outside of downtown Scranton. COLTS is looking out for suspect bags lying around, or any other safety concerns such as the speed at which buses come into the facility.
COLTS is currently in the process of giving Scranton PD the ability to view video from their Omnicast system using the Federation™ feature of Security Center. According to Carl Graziano, Police Chief at the Scranton Police Department, “The ability to see what is happening at this major transportation hub in our city enables our officers and detectives the opportunity to be proactive in our community policing.”