Transit Security: An Overview of Activities Since 9/11

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Transit Security An Overview of Activities
Since 9/11

• Eva Lerner-LamPresidentPalisades Consulting
  Group, Inc.
• ITE 2003 Annual Meeting
• August 24-27, 2003 Washington State Convention
  Trade Center Seattle, Washington, USA

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The Problem

• Transit systems are by their very nature open
  and vulnerable to security risks
• High concentrations of people and equipment are
  prime targets for terrorists and others seeking
  to inflict harm
• During an attack, transit is expected to provide
  a means of mass evacuation

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The Problem, cond.

• In 1998, attacks against transportation and
  transportation infrastructures accounted for 42
  percent of all international terrorist attacks
  reported by the U.S. State Department.
• The Transportation Research Board found that 34
  percent of the violent acts against
  transportation target rail and buses.

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What Transit Has Done

• Transportation Research Board
• American Public Transportation Association
• Federal Transit Administration
• Transit Standards Consortium
• Amalgamated Transit Union
• National Transit Institute
• Transportation Security Administration

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Transportation Research Board

• Funded several key research initiatives
• Established website resource http//www4.trb.org/
  trb/homepage.nsf/web/security

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American Public Transportation Association

• Testified to Congress on need for funding
  security initiatives
• Worked with TRB and FTA on outreach and other
  activities
• Website resource http//www.apta.com/services/se
  curity/

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Federal Transit Administration

• Completed 37 threat and vulnerability assessments
• Deployed technical assistance teams
• Awarded grants for drills by emergency responders
  and transit
• Accelerated technology deployment
• Facilitated training and regional collaboration
• Established a website resource
  http//www.transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/

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Amalgamated Transit Union

• Successfully lobbied Congress to fund training
  and education

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National Transit Institute

• Conducted training and education courses

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Transportation Security Administration

• A Division under the new Department of Homeland
  Security

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Department of Homeland Security
Executive Secretary
Commandant of Coast Guard (1)
Legislative Affairs
Secretary ---------------------------------- Deput
y Secretary
Inspector General
Public Affairs
General Counsel
State and Local Coordination
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Citizenship Immigration Service Ombudsman (1)
Director, Bureau of Citizenship Immigration
Services (1)
Special Assistant to the Secretary (private
sector)
Director of the Secret Service (1)
Privacy Officer
Small Disadvantaged Business
National Capital Region Coordination
Chief of Staff
International Affairs
Shared Services
Counter Narcotics
Under Secretary Science and Technology
Under Secretary Information Analysis and
Infrastructure Protection
Under Secretary Emergency Preparedness and
Response
Under Secretary Management
Under Secretary Border Transportation Security
Note (1) Effective March 1st, 2003
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Status as of 8/25/03

• Groundwork laid for comprehensive security
  approach (vulnerability assessments-planning-harde
  ning-training-drills)
• Local, regional and national coordination
  networks established

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What Still Needs to Be Done

• Implementation of hardening recommendations
• Incorporation of security as a fundamental
  component of transit operations
• On-going education and training

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Challenges and Opportunities

• Constructive partnerships with other agencies and
  the new Transportation Security Administration
• Standards for procedures, equipment,
  communications, etc.