Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) has installed live look-in equipment on its buses to enhance operator and customer safety.
The new system enables RTD’s public safety dispatchers to view and hear individuals, situations and events occurring live across its bus fleet.
RTD began installing the software in early 2023 for use in emergency situations.
General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said:The ability for RTD’s public safety dispatchers to view the interior of a bus in real-time should provide comfort both to the agency’s operators and to customers. The live look-in system presents staff and police with a more granular level of detail as they respond to and resolve emergencies. It is imperative that the public feels safe and secure on RTD buses and properties. With the addition of this system, no one is travelling alone.
This project was funded by the US Department of Homeland Security, which awarded RTD a 2.4 million USD grant in September 2020.
The grant paid for the live look-in software, professional services and five years of maintenance.
This live look-in system supersedes prior technology, which only allowed dispatch to hear audio inside the bus.
Thanks to the new system, RTD’s public safety dispatchers can now use the bus’ existing cellular network connection to hear audio and view video in real-time from onboard cameras.
This helps bus dispatch and the RTD Police Department (RTD-PD) better understand a situation, including how to efficiently assist employees and the public.
The system is housed on each RTD bus, including the agency’s own vehicles and those operated by Transdev.
Its use advances RTD’s initiative to enhance safety as part of its Welcoming Transit Environment strategic initiative.
This focus is key for encouraging more people to use public transit services.
