Valley Metro South Central Extension Security and Safety Certification
SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND RISK-REDUCTION PROGRAM ENSURES PASSENGER SAFETY ON A NEW LIGHT RAIL LINE IN PHOENIX
To satisfy projected travel demand between downtown Phoenix and points south over the coming decades, Valley Metro is undertaking an ambitious expansion of its light rail system. The South Central Extension project involves the creation of a 5.6-mile line from Central City to the South Mountain Village community, as well as nine new stations along the way. The extension’s annual ridership is expected to reach 4.4 million by 2035.
As part of the project, Gannett Fleming is assisting Valley Metro in the development and application of the required system security and safety certification process to protect extension travelers and employees. The work includes assuring design criteria requirements for establishing systems to provide security and surveillance at passenger stations, park and ride facilities, and systemwide access points throughout the new light rail line.
What We Did
Our firm is performing a Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) to assess hazards associated with the design phases of the project’s life cycle, preventing the need for a redesign if hazards were to be discovered after design work was complete. The team is also providing a project-specific Threat and Vulnerability Assessment (TVA) that identifies effective corrective measures to reduce the risk of a security incident on the extension.
Identified security requirements will be incorporated into project design and tracked during each stage of the project’s development using the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) methodology of System Safety and Security Certification to ensure their full implementation. The team worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure that local, state, and federal security and safety criteria were thoroughly addressed under the project’s safety and security management plan.
Key Features
- PHA identifies hazards early in the project life cycle to avoid redesign costs.
- Project-specific TVA identifies corrective measures to reduce security risks.
- System Safety and Security Certification checklists facilitate full implementation of risk-reduction measures.
Outcomes
- Safe and convenient light rail transit for 4.4 million travelers annually.
- Improved mobility between Central City and South Mountain Village communities.
- Full compliance with applicable city, state, and federal rail safety requirements.
CLIENT
Valley Metro Rail
LOCATION
Phoenix, Ariz.
ROLE
Safety and Security Assessment and Certification
Related Projects
MassDOT Variable Message Sign Replacement and Upgrade
Hawaiian Dam Safety Seismic Hazard Assessment
Nassau Inter-County Express Battery Electric Bus Charging
Zero-Emission Fleet Planning for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
Oklahoma Road Usage Charge Pilot Program
Valley Metro Rail Operations and Maintenance Center Expansion
