COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FOUR TRANSIT SYSTEM POLICE DEPARTMENTS

Three transit system police departments -- those of New York City (MTA), Philadelphia (SEPTA), and Washington, D.C. (WMATA), -- of somewhat similar size and regional proximity to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) are compared. Analysis reveals that the MBTA has the lowest percentage of total annual budget allocated to police and security. Moreover MBTA has 1 officer for every 62,500 persons, as compared to 1 officer for every 2,733 persons in New York City, 1 for every 16,304 persons in Washington, and 1 for every 52,703 persons in Philadelphia. The MBTA rates second only to New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority in number of arrests made in 1980. Finally, the MBTA was found to be vastly understaffed considering the population it serves and the large amount of crime with which it must deal. Five tables and study instruments are included.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Committee on Criminal Justice

  Statistical Analysis Center
  Boston, MA  United States  02108
• Authors:
  • Quidgley, C M
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Pagination: 13 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crimes; Police; Rapid transit; Statistics; Transit operating agencies
• Identifier Terms: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority; New York City Transit Authority; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Public Transportation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00455015
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1986 12:00AM