How Foothill Transit Slashed Vandalism-Related Costs by Thousands of Dollars a Month With ECAM
About Foothill Transit
Foothill Transit is a leading public transit agency serving the Greater Los Angeles area. Its Downtown Los Angeles bus depot houses up to 20 buses, each valued at approximately one million dollars, and serves as a key operational hub for the organization’s regional network. To strengthen security at this critical facility, Foothill Transit sought a solution that could protect valuable assets, improve safety, and reduce ongoing operational costs.
The Challenge for Foothill Transit
The Downtown Los Angeles depot faced frequent incidents of trespassing, graffiti, vandalism, and biohazard issues, with technicians responding multiple times per week to address damage, resulting in high maintenance costs.
The site’s complex traffic flow and adjacent un-housed encampments further elevated risks, creating safety and fire hazards near the perimeter fence. Maintaining a full-time manned guard presence was costly, and the agency needed a flexible, cost-effective solution that combined human presence with advanced security technology to safeguard people and assets around the clock.
How ECAM Helped Foothill Transit
ECAM implemented its Hybrid Security Solution, a seamless integration of manned guard services from GardaWorld and ECAM’s advanced surveillance technologies, to deliver proactive protection and real-time situational awareness.
Key actions included:
- Daytime Manned Guard Services: GardaWorld guards managed traffic, interacted with contractors, and ensured unauthorized individuals did not enter the property.
- Nighttime Technological Surveillance: ECAM deployed two Mobile Surveillance Units (MSUs) equipped with geo-fencing and remote monitoring, providing continuous 24/7 coverage of the depot.
- Talk-Down Audio Deterrence: ECAM’s Command Center operators used real-time communication to deter trespassers, reducing vandalism and unauthorized access.
- Incident Response Integration: ECAM’s UL-Listed, TMA Five Diamond Certified Command Center in Long Beach coordinated directly with GardaWorld’s on-site guards for rapid response.
Since we’ve partnered with ECAM and GardaWorld, we’ve seen a significant decrease in our response from our facilities technicians…this location is not even in the top three of where our technicians respond. That is a significant cost savings for Foothill.
John Curley
Chief of Safety and Security, Foothill Transit
The ECAM Difference
ECAM’s Hybrid Security Solution delivered measurable results, improving safety and generating substantial cost savings for Foothill Transit’s operations.
Key outcomes included:
- $2,500 monthly reduction in facilities maintenance costs due to fewer graffiti and vandalism incidents
- $30,000 savings by avoiding costly gate installation through geo-fencing technology
- $60,000–$70,000 in annual guard cost savings by removing overnight manned posts
- 29 successful interventions in the first year of deployment
- Reduced technician site visits from 2–3 times per week to just 1–2 times per month
Beyond the savings, ECAM’s solution created a safer environment for Foothill Transit staff, mitigated fire hazards, and enhanced protection of high-value transit assets in a complex urban setting.
