In the year since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has made it a priority to help communities become better prepared to respond to emergency situations. As part of this effort, FTA launched an ambitious 5-part security initiative, the framework of which is based on a systems approach to improving security in any transit system. The elements include: (1) In-depth security assessments, (2) development of plans to address deficiencies, (3) testing the plans in realistic situations, (4) training employees to understand and implement the plan, and (5) undertaking research to enhance human capabilities.

Upgrading Transit Security. Over the past year, teams of experts in security, anti-terrorism, and transit have conducted security assessments of 36 public transit systems across the country using a proven threat and vulnerability assessment methodology. FTA first focused on the Nation’s high risk/high consequence transit assets—transit systems with tunnels and stations where large numbers of people converge and where an attack would cause the greatest disruption to transportation services. Each assessment identified high risk and high consequence assets, evaluated security gaps, made recommendations to reduce security risks to acceptable levels, educated transit agencies on threat and vulnerability analysis, and reviewed agencies’ emergency response plans, particularly their degree of coordination with emergency responders throughout the region. Included in the 36 assessments were three commuter rail systems, which FTA assessed in collaboration with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Based on the findings of these assessments, FTA is deploying emergency response planning and technical assistance teams to 60 transit agencies to help them develop and update their security response plans, develop agency-specific protocols to respond to different Department of Homeland Security threat levels, conduct training needs assessments, and develop agency-specific security awareness materials for employees and customers. The goal is to ensure that security is as integrally woven into all facets of system operations as has been done with safety in recent years. FTA has completed the pilot phase of this project with three transit agencies and will send teams to at least 30 transit agencies by the end of Fiscal Year 2003. These agencies were identified in conjunction with the FBI, which has assisted FTA in prioritizing and targeting our resources based on intelligence information about threats and vulnerabilities.

The 400,000+ transit employees throughout America are the "eyes and ears" of our most important security system. They are in the best position to identify unusual packages, suspicious substances, and people who are acting suspiciously. But they need to acquire skills in what to look for and how to respond, skills that can be acquired through rigorous emergency planning, regular emergency testing and drills, and extensive training.

To ensure that such training is available, FTA has partnered with the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) and the National Transit Institute (NTI) to expand course offerings on security to a broader audience. FTA, in conjunction with NTI, has also launched an aggressive nationwide schedule to deliver comprehensive security awareness courses targeted to frontline transit employees and supervisors free of charge. Course offerings include security planning, weapons of mass destruction, bus and rail hijacking, and crime prevention through environmental design.

Over the next several months, FTA also plans to launch a new program, including training materials, posters, pocket cards, brochures, and other materials to teach and remind transit workers about what to look for, how to respond to a threat, and whom to notify. FTA will be working with industry stakeholders, including transit unions, to leverage the work they have done in this area to develop and deliver these materials.

Emergency Response Capability. Full-scale drills reinforce emergency response procedures and help communities work out specific details and backup plans. Effective response must be an anti-terrorism tool. To be ready to respond, transit agencies need written emergency response plans that include a unified command structure, and the must conduct realistic drills that are specific to their own operations. To assist in this effort, FTA has awarded 93 grants to fund emergency response drills. One important condition of these grants is that the drills must include the participation of local and regional police, fire, and emergency response agencies.

In addition to providing grants for emergency response drills that include these important community responders, FTA is taking the lead to bring these key players together at emergency response forums around the country. With the eager participation and support of elected officials and emergency response organizations, FTA is conducting 17 "Connecting Communities Emergency Preparedness and Security Forums" around the country to promote regional collaboration and coordination among emergency service responders and transit agencies. In the eight 2-day forums held through September 2002, more than 1,200 transit leaders, law enforcement, fire, and medical re-