Blumenthal Statement On Preliminary Approval For Metro-North Contract To Install Inward- And Outward-Facing Cameras On Rail Fleet

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after the Metro-North Railroad (MNR) and Long Island Railroad secured preliminary approval for contracts totaling $34.6 million for the purchase of inward- and outward-facing cameras in the cabs of their rail fleet. The full board is expected to approve the contracts on Wednesday, which would mean MNR can begin installing cameras in all cars. 

“Installing these cameras should be expedited, as I have urged, to prevent tragedies like Spuyten Duyvil, which still haunts Metro-North and the MTA. This measure, long overdue, will save lives and dollars by spurring alertness, deterring distraction, and strengthening inspection practices. That’s why the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued recommendations to Metro-North urging the railroad to install cameras on the railroad’s fleet of cars. It’s also why I’ve included language in my rail safety legislation that would mandate the installation of inward- and outward-facing cameras on railroads. I urge Metro-North to complete installation of the camera system without delay, as well as move forward swiftly with the implementation of other life-saving technology like Positive Train Control (PTC).”