Terrorism and Public Transportation
Number 4 -- rev May 2004
This Resource Guide has been compiled in response to the heinous
terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington DC on September 11, 2001. It identifies
documents available on the Internet that may be of use to public transportation systems
preparing to defend against further acts of terrorism. Please send information on
additional resources to info@apta.com
Transit Cooperative Research Program
Reports
Emergency Preparedness for Transit Terrorism.
Annabelle Boyd & John P. Sullivan, 1997.
Provides information on the current practice of transit agencies to prevent and respond to
terrorism and acts of extreme violence. Includes survey results of 42 police and security
departments, plus site visits and phone interviews.
Source: TCRP Synthesis of Transit Practice 27, Transportation Research
Board,National Research Council.
Location: http://nationalacademies.org/trb/publications/tcrp/tsyn27.pdf
Improving Transit Security
Jerome A. Needle & Renee M. Cobb, 1997.
Identifies violence prevention and control practices deemed successful by transit agency
professionals. Includes data from survey questionnaire and field interviews.
Source: TCRP Synthesis of Transit Practice 21, Transportation Research
Board,National Research Council.
Location: http://nationalacademies.org/trb/publications/tcrp/tsyn21.pdf
Guidelines for the Effective Use of Uniformed Transit Police and
Security Personnel Final Report
Interactive Elements Incorporated, May 1997
Uniformed deployment tactics designed to address transit-specific police and
security problems and potential solutions are identified through surveys,
interviews and field research at transit sites.
Source: TCRP Web Document 15 (Project F-6)
Transportation Research Board,National Research Council.
Location: http://nationalacademies.org/trb/publications/tcrp/tcrp_webdoc_15-a.pdf
Electronic Surveillance Technology on Transit Vehicles
Patricia Maier & Jud Malone, 2001.
The technology for use in surveillance strategies on board vehicles is still
emerging. Reports on types of equipment available, distribution of equipment
throughout transit agencies, benefits, and potential financial, legal, and
mechanical issues.
Source: TCRP Synthesis of Transit Practice 38, Transportation
Research Board,National Research Council.
Location http://nationalacademies.org/trb/publications/tcrp/tsyn38.pdf
Public Transportation Security Series. September 2002 and
ongoing.
An ongoing series of reports that focus on the concerns that transit agencies
are addressing when developing programs in response to the terrorist attacks
of September 11, 2001. Topics covered in the series include: portable explosion
detection devices; intrusion detection; use of robotic devices; K-9 units;
security related customer communications. Additional volumes will be issued
as they are completed.
Source: TCRP Report 86 Vols 1-6+ Transportation Research Board,National
Research Council.
Location: http://trb.org/news/blurb_browse.asp?id=1
Other Resources
Survey of United States Transit System Security Needs and Funding Priorities.
APTA, April, 2004.
Reports results of a survey of 120 transit systems as to steps they had taken
since 9-11 to implement new or enhance existing security measures, and the
agencies' prioritized needs for federal funding of operating and capital expenditures
for security.
Source: American Public Transportation Association
Location:
http://www.apta.com/services/security/documents/security_survey.pdf
Saving City Lifelines: Lessons Learned in the 9-11 Terrorist Attacks.
Brian M. Jenkins & Frances Edwards-Winslow, September 2003.
Sheds light on the key role played by New York and Washington DC transit agencies
and emergency responders, the "unsung heroes", in the aftermath
of the 9-11-2001 attacks. Draws lessons learned from interviews and reports
completed after the events.
Source: Mineta Transportation Institute, San Jose State University
Location:
http://www.transweb.sjsu.edu/publications/Sept11.pdf
Transit Industry Prepares for Anniversary of Sept. 11 with Increased Security.
Passenger Transport . September 9, 2002.
Reports on the enhancements North American public transportation agencies
have made to security and emergency preparedness in the year since September
11th, 2001, with special focus on areas such as conducting threat
assessments, controlling access to facilities, and increased training.
Source: Passenger Transport published by the American Public
Transportation Association. Click here.
Transit Threat Level Response Recommendations. FTA, Office of Safety
and Security.
Provides the FTA's guidance to the U.S. transit industry in responding
to the various Office of Homeland Security threat level designations in
the form of 128 recommended transit protective measures distributed over
8 threat levels.
Source: Federal Transit Administration
Location: http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/security/SecurityInitiatives/ThreatLevel/default.asp
Transit Security Design Considerations. FTA, Office of Safety and
Security, November, 2004.
Provides security design guidelines for the major assets of transit systems;
addresses access management, systems integration, and communications; and
discusses major threats such as arson, explosives, WMDs, hostage situations,
physical tampering.
Source: Federal Transit Administration
Location: http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/security/SecurityInitiatives/DesignConsiderations/default.asp
Standard Protocols for Managing Security Incidents Involving
Surface Transit Vehicles. FTA, Office of Safety and Security. 2002.
Protocols are mainly focused on the transit operator and address inspection
for explosives and hazardous substances, and response to a verified or
highly suspicious event.
Source: Federal Transit Administration
Location: http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/Publications/security/FTAStandards.pdf
Security Concerns Attract Operators to Advances in
Video Surveillance. Joey Campbell, February/March 2002.
Describes the evolution of video surveillance in transit and outlines
the advantages of digital technology in video surveillance systems. Provides
a summary of the product offerings of six companies that provide mobile
video surveillance equipment.
Source: Metro Magazine, February/March 2002
Location: http://www.metro-magazine.com/t_featpick.cfm?id=90503364
Control of Public Space.
Peter Whent, May 1999.
Presents a safety and security strategy entitled Control of Public Space
as utilized throughout the railway networks of England, Scotland and Wales,
including the London Underground. Click here for PDF file.
Source: APTA 1999 Rapid Transit Conference Proceedings Paper.
The Use of Technology in Preparing Subway Systems for Chemical/Biological
Terrorism.
Anthony J. Policastro & Susanna P. Gordon, May 1999.
Describes technologies that can be put into place in a subway system in
an attempt to save lives in case of an incident of biological or chemical
terrorism. Click here for PDF file.
Source: APTA 1999 Rapid Transit Conference Proceedings Paper.
Protecting Surface Transportation Systems and Patrons
from Terrorist Activities.
Brian M. Jenkins, December 1997
Comprises a chronology of attacks on US surface transportation systems;
four case studies of transportation security measures (in Paris, Atlanta,
New York, and at Amtrak); security surveys of nine additional US cities;
and an annotated bibliography of resources.
Source: Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation
Policy Studies
Location: http://transweb.sjsu.edu/publications/terrorism/terrorism.pdf
Protecting Surface Transportation Against Terrorism and Serious
Crime: Continuing Research on Best Security Practices.
Brian M. Jenkins & Larry N. Gersten, September 2001
Updates and expands the 1997 publication above with new case studies from
the London Underground and bus system's response to the IRA terrorist
campaign and Tokyo subway's response to the Sarin attack by the Aum cult.
(114 pages)
Source: Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation
Policy Studies
Location: http://www.transweb.sjsu.edu/publications/terrorism_final.pdf
Cops, Cameras, and Enclosures:
A Synthesis of the Effectiveness of Methods to Provide Enhanced Security for Bus
Operators.
Darin Allan and Joel Volinski, May 2001
A survey of transit agencies describing a variety of techniques used to minimize the
possibilities of assault against their bus operators and passengers.
Source: National Center for Transit Research, University of
South Florida
Location: http://www.nctr.usf.edu/publications.htm
Vulnerability Assessment of the Transportation Infrastructure Relying
on Global Positioning System Final Report
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, August 2001
Assesses the ways users might be affected by a short- or long-term GPS outage.
Recommends steps the user community might take to minimize the impact
of such outages.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
Location: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/archive/2001/Oct/FinalReport-v4.6.pdf
"Eyes and Ears" Campaign. Bay Area Repid Transit, May 2004.
An anti-terrorism awareness campaign designed to put BART customers on alert
for unattended and suspicious bags and suspicious behavior.
Source: BART Web Site
Location: http://www.bart.gov/news/features/features20040526.asp
APTA Information Center
info@apta.com
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