Transit Security - Resources List

Expanded version of list published in Tech Transfer, February 2007

Articles, papers and reports not available online can be requested from the ITS Library. See Interlibrary Loans for pricing and ordering information.

Journal Articles
• Five Years Later: Securing Public Transit Post 9/11
  Alex Roman
  Metro, September/October 2006
  Pages 101-108
  Looks at actions to increase security by transit agencies including use of surveillance cameras, greater police presence, emergency drills and training.
  
• The Dynamic State of Electronic Security in Transit Today
  Barry Einsig
  Mass Transit, September/October 2006, pages 32-38
  Advocates an integrated approach to incorporating electronic security in the transit environment. Lists actions to involve stakeholders, design solutions and coordinate transit operations and security systems.
  
• Safe Passage: Rethinking Transit Security in the Post-9/11 Era
  Angela Claypool
  Progressive Railroading, February 2005, pages 17-22
  Looks at the challenges faced by transit agencies as they seek to improve security with limited funds. It cites specific actions taken by agencies to add reinforcements, provide training, implement technology and evaluate systems for vulnerabilities.
  
• Securing Public Transit Post 9/11: A Survey of Needs and Programs
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/trnews/trnews238.pdf
  Daniel J. O'Neil and Yuko J. Nakanishi
  TR News, May/June 2005, pages 4-12 (issue on transportation security and education) Provides information on resources for transportation security and describes state programs. Includes a list of federal agencies that offer on-site training and technical assistance; a roster of cybersecurity programs offered by universities, private companies, and government agencies; and a summary table showing federal assistance sources for state DOT security issues.
  
• Safety and Security: Developing a Cooperative Process to Meet the Public Transportation Challenge
  Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Spring 2005, pages 41-60
  Describes a method for determining transit riders' perceptions of an agency's security policies. That in turn gives the transit provider opportunities for enhancing rider awareness and identifying gaps in existing procedures.
  
• Antiterrorism Security and Surface Transportation Systems: Review of Case Studies and Current Tactics
  Camille N. Y. Fink
  Transportation Research Record 1822, pages 9-17
  Reviews terrorist bombing attacks in London and Paris and chemical attack in Tokyo for lessons in prevention and mitigation; resolving vulnerabilities; developing emergency response plans. Also considers the cost effectiveness factor.
  
• Analysis of Security System Designs for Ferry Transportation
  Kelly Leone and Rongfang Liu
  Transportation Research Record 1955, pages 8-13
  Examines how to provide effective detection without compromising mobility from a systems analysis approach.
  

Conference Papers

• Evaluating Intelligent Video Solutions for Protecting Mass Transit Systems
  Barry Einsig
  APTA Rail Conference 2006
  Describes the capabilities and applications for intelligent video systems. Compares traditional and intelligent systems and describes features.
  
• MTA's Security Upgrades - Fast Track and Cost Effective
  Robert Mowry, Vern Hartsock, Salvador Suau, Michael Massaquoi
  APTA Rail Transit Conference 2005
  Describes the design of security system upgrades to an intelligent video system by the Maryland Transit Administration. These and other effective enhancements were accomplished in a very short time period with a small investment of money.
  
• Incident Command for Transit Agencies
  Pamela J. Sutherland
  Bus & Paratransit Conference 2005
  Provides information to allow agencies to update emergency procedures so they are compatible with the Incident Command System. Includes training recommendations.
  
• Transit Agency Approach to Threat and Vulnerability Analysis
  Kevin L. Chandler and Don Eldredge
  Bus & Paratransit Conference 2005
  Provides an overview of threat and vulnerability analysis, part of a security vulnerability assessment, for transit agencies. Discusses competing methodologies from the Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Transportation Security Administration.
  
• Terrorism, Transit, and Public Safety: Evaluating the Risks
  http://www.vtpi.org/transitrisk.pdf
  Litman, Todd Alexander
  Victoria Transport Policy Institute
  December 2005
  Analyzes statistics to demonstrate the comparative safety of public transit and notes that traffic accidents pose a much greater risk than does terrorism.
  
• The Changing Threat
  http://transweb.sjsu.edu/mtiportal/research/publications/documents/ 2453%20S-05-02%20%20%20HTML_PDF/Rail_Security%20Symposium.pdf Brian Michael Jenkins, National Transportation Security Center
  Third National Transportation Security Summit: Rail Security - A Symposium on Terrorism and Business Continuity
  Mineta Transportation Institute
  September 29, 2005
  Pages 7-22
  Describes a "best practices" approach to security that presents operators with a menu of security options from which they can choose the best combination of security measures for their particular situation. Notes the importance of evacuation plans and providing for effective communication systems.
  

Reports

• Designing and Operating Safe and Secure Transit Systems: Assessing Current Practices in the United States and Abroad
  http://transweb.sjsu.edu/mtiportal/research/ publications/documents/04-05/MTI_04-05.pdf
  Brian Taylor, et al.
  Mineta Transportation Institute, November 2005, 306 pages
  Synthesizes previous research on transit security; conducts detailed case studies of transit systems in London, Madrid, Paris, Tokyo, New York and Washington, D.C.; describes efforts to coordinate and fund transit security planning; reports on a survey of 113 system operators in the U.S. Finds that transit managers are struggling to balance security and access; coordination between security and transit agencies is increasing but could be improved.
  
• Transit Agency Security and Emergency Management Protective Measures
  http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/publications/security/ ProtectiveMeasures/PDF/ProtectiveMeasures.pdf
  Federal Transit Administration
  November 2006, 84 pages
  Provides a set of protective measures to respond to threat conditions and emergencies. Gives a systematic approach for the application of such measures to enhance transit security and emergency management.
  
• TSA/FTA Security and Emergency Management Action Items for Transit Agencies
  http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/Security/SecurityInitiatives/ ActionItems/default.asp
  Outlines 17 action items listed in a logical priority order. Covers management and accountability; training; public awareness; drills and exercises; risk management; facility security; background investigations; document control; and security audits.
  
• Immediate Actions (IAs) for Transit Agencies for Potential and Actual Life-threatening Incidents Federal Transit Administration
  April 2004, 14 pages
  Provides clear procedures for immediate actions to prevent or mitigate terrorist or violent criminal acts. Provides a matrix of actions for situations such as suspicious packages, explosives, biohazards, and armed attacks that can be used as part of a training program.
  
• On the Ground: Protecting America's Roads and Transit against Terrorism
  http://apps49.brookings.edu/dybdocroot/metro/ pubs/20050426_howitt.pdf
  Brookings Institution
  Arnold M. Howitt and Jonathon Makler
  April 2005, 20 pages
  "Though the federal government, states, and localities have spent considerable sums on transportation security since September 11, little funding has addressed needs outside of the air travel system and equipment for the "first responders" of public safety agencies. However, from 1991 to 2001, 42 percent of all terrorist attacks worldwide have targeted rail systems or buses. This brief examines the regulatory, financial, and logistical landscape of surface transportation security, making policy recommendations while counseling decision-makers to weigh carefully the trade-offs between accessibility and security."
  
• Transit Security Design Considerations
  http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/Security/SecurityInitiatives/ DesignConsiderations/CD/ftasesc.pdf
  Federal Transit Administration
  November 2004
  Provides a preliminary assessment of the vulnerability of bus vehicles, rail vehicles, transit infrastructure and communications to various methods of attack. It also addresses access management, systems integration, and communications. Consulting the sections on both infrastructure and access management will be valuable when developing a strategy for protecting and hardening a maintenance facility or terminal.
  
• The Case for Searches on Public Transportation
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_lrd_22.pdf
  Jocelyn Waits
  TCRP Legal Research Digest 22
  October 2005, 72 pages
  Provides information about the ability of transit systems to conduct either random or targeted searches of passengers or those on public transit property. Covers federal case law and state decisions. Raises issues that agencies may address in formulating own policies. Aimed at attorneys, security officials, transit police, transit supervisors and transit operators.
  
• Safety and Security Issues at All-Bus Systems in Small- to Medium-Sized Cities in Western Europe
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rrd_58.pdf
  TCRP Research Results Digest 58
  Reports findings of a study team that visited eight cities in Ireland, England and France in 2002.
  Describes emergency and evacuation plans, engaging communities in prevention, post-incident communications, treatment of employee victims, driver protection actions and technologies, staff hiring and training, and restoration of service.
  
• Passenger Rail Security: Overview of the Issues
  http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/60723.pdf
  Congressional Research Service
  January 20, 2006, 15 pages
  Notes that transit systems are inherently vulnerable to attack and actions to protect them must be balanced against operating efficiency and access. One of the biggest security issues facing many transit systems is how to pay for increased security.
  
• Passenger Rail Security: Evaluating Foreign Security Practices and Risk Can Help Guide Security Efforts
  GAO-06-557T
  March 29, 2006
  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06557t.pdf
  Advocates implementing certain rail security practices used in foreign countries, including covert testing, a clearinghouse for security technologies, and practices that integrate security into infrastructure design. Finds that risk management approach by agencies can help direct federal funds to highest security priorities.
  
• Public Transportation Security
  http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_browse.asp?id=1
  TCRP Report 86
  2002
  Assembles information on specific transit security issues from TRB into individual volumes. Focuses on transit agencies' concerns in developing programs in response to terrorist attacks. Additional reports will be published as completed; inidividual volumes are available for download.
  Vol.1, Communication of Threats: A Guide - Describes a variety of approaches to improving the sharing of threat information.
  Vol. 2, K9 Units in Public Transportation: A Guide for Decision Makers - Offers information on deployment practices, implementation and explosives detection using dogs.
  Vol. 3, Robotic Devices: A Guide for the Transit Environment - Identifies conditions devices must operate in and develops a requirements specification. Includes description of available devices and selection analysis guide.
  Vol. 4, Intrusion Detection for Public Transportation Facilities Handbook - Describes available technologies such as fencing, barriers, access control, sensor and identification systems.
  Vol. 5, Intrusion Detection for Public Transportation Facilities Handbook - Includes a 15-minute video, Being Prepared,
  Vol. 6, Applicability of Portable Explosive Detection Devices in Transit Environments - Reports on lab and field testing of available devices and discusses training and implementation issues.
  Vol. 7, Public Transportation Emergency Mobilization and Emergency Operations Guide - Describes actions to promote early awareness of emergency events and expedite coordinated, integrated responses.
  Vol. 8, Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning Guidelines for Transportation Agencies - Provides templates and guidelines to assist agencies in developing processes to ensure continuation of essential internal operations.
  Vol. 9, Guidelines for Transportation Emergency Training Exercises - Describes how to develop drills and emergency exercises in compliance with the National Incident Management System.
  Vol. 10, Hazard and Security Plan Workshop: Instructor Guide - Assists small agencies in creating, evaluating and modifying plans, policies, and procedures.
  Vol. 11, Security Measures for Ferry Systems - Provides list of security measures and a tool for evaluating the value of each to a particular operator.
  Vol. 12, Making Transportation in Tunnels Safe and Secure - Examines guidelines used to identify hazards and threats. Explores countermeasures and integrated systems for command, control, communications, and information.