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Norwalk Transit to pilot crowdsourced safety app after council approval
Summary
The council approved a one‑year subscription with Ealerts Corporation to deploy a crowdsourced incident‑reporting app (See Something, Say Something) on Norwalk Transit buses, integrating the reports with the dispatch AVL/CAD system; staff will run a marketing push and report back on usage.
The Norwalk City Council unanimously approved a one‑year subscription agreement with Ealerts Corporation to pilot a crowdsourced incident‑reporting mobile app on Norwalk Transit buses.
Staff said the See Something, Say Something app (staff referred to it as a crowdsourced incident reporting system) allows passengers to report assaults, fights, disruptive behavior, suspected human trafficking, unattended packages, vandalism and other incidents anonymously and to attach photos. The system can integrate with the transit Avail CAD/AVL system so dispatchers see bus location in real time when a report is filed.
Presentation materials identified agencies already using the platform (including Foothill Transit) and described marketing plans — car cards on buses, social media, shelter panels and promotion (suggestions included offering a free TAP card to incentivize downloads). The subscription cost was presented as $39,009.95 for the first year and staff said the expense will be included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2025–26 Department of Transportation budget; staff noted no general‑fund impact.
Transit operations staff told council the app allows users to dim the phone screen so reporting is discreet. Derek Donnell, manager of transit operations, was available to answer technical questions; staff said they would return to council with usage data after implementation and consider multiyear purchasing if the pilot proves successful.
Council members expressed support for campus outreach (Rio Hondo Community College was mentioned as a potential partner for advertising) and asked staff to report back at six months and one year with metrics on downloads and incident reports. The council voted aye: Rick Ramirez, Anna Valencia, Vice Mayor Jennifer Perez and Mayor Tony Ayala.
