Volpe Center: Volpe Center Highlights

Information Resources

Volpe Center Highlights - Spring 2005

Security

Security Strategies for State DOTs (PennDOT)

Key Lessons in Strategic Security Planning for State DOTs

One-size solution does not fit all
State DOTs need to assume a more proactive role in security
Critical first step: an assessment of threats, vulnerabilities, and risks
Integrate security into existing emergency response and recovery efforts

The surface transportation system is vital to a state's economy, security, and quality of life. For example, the loss of a critical bridge or structure could result in hundreds of casualties, billions of dollars of direct infrastructure costs, and even greater socioeconomic costs. The Volpe Center is helping the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) develop a more integrated, strategic approach to security and emergency management planning for transportation assets and infrastructure across the state. The project was sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Pooled Fund Program, which allows federal, state, and local agencies and other organizations to combine resources to support transportation research studies. Arizona and Indiana also contributed funds to this effort.

On December 14, 2004, Dr. Rachel Winkeller of the Planning and Policy Analysis Division delivered Volpe's final report and briefed PennDOT senior management on recommendations for a transportation security strategy. To develop the recommendations, the Volpe team applied the following three-phase methodology.

Analyzed current PennDOT security efforts, conducting interviews with staff from PennDOT and other relevant agencies within Pennsylvania, as well as reviewing security planning documents;
Documented effective practices in other state DOTs, interviewing state DOTs, federal agencies, and AASHTO (the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials), as well as reviewing literature (available at http://www.pooledfund.org;
Developed recommendations for enhancing PennDOT's security/emergency response program, based on the findings of phases one and two.

The report includes recommendations characterized as follows:

Strategic direction for security
Organizational structure
Roles and responsibilities
Relationships with external agencies and transportation providers
Policies, plans, and procedures
Communications/Intelligent Transportation Systems
Infrastructure protection
Training and exercises

Other Volpe team members include Mr. Matthew Rabkin of the Planning and Policy Analysis Division and Mr. Jordan Karp and Mr. Ben Rasmussen of CASE, LLC (an on-site Volpe Center contractor). Mr. Robert Brodesky of EG&G Technical Services, Inc. (an on-site Volpe Center contractor) and Ms. Hannah Rakoff of CASE, LLC also contributed to the effort.

In addition, on December 9, 2004, at the behest of PennDOT, Dr. Winkeller presented "Effective Practices in State DOT Security Planning" at the Pennsylvania Transportation Engineering and Safety Conference held in State College, Pennsylvania.

Transit Security Design Considerations (FTA)

Transit Security Design Considerations document cover.

The new FTA document uses a systems approach to help transit professionals analyze and address risks and vulnerabilities, and build security into the design of transit projects.

A new report represents a significant milestone in the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) effort to make the nation's transit systems safer and more secure in the post-September 11 world. Transit Security Design Considerations, prepared by the Volpe Center for FTA and published in November 2004, provides design strategies to reduce the vulnerability of transit systems to acts of terrorism.

Transit Security Design Considerations encourages a systems approach to security that encompasses all of the aspects of a transit organization -- the people, the processes, the equipment, and the technology. A public transit system is in fact a network of systems. It is connected to other elements of the larger transportation network not only physically, but also through an intricate network of technology, law, regulation, and operational relationships. The report illustrates how the physical design of transit assets can support critical security functions, and provides design considerations for the major assets of transit systems -- bus vehicles, rail vehicles, and transit infrastructure and communications -- as well as a preliminary assessment of the vulnerabilities to various methods of attack inherent in each asset.

The myriad transit agencies across the country differ greatly in size, location, and requirements; this document was developed to allow each agency to review, select, and adapt the information to suit its needs. span class="italic">Transit Security Design Considerations assembles the experience of many stakeholders and practitioners and presents this information in a structured manner that will be useful to the entire transit community. Industry specialists and practitioners have contributed significantly to the success of this venture. Almost 150 transit specialists formed 10 working groups, each focused on a critical area.

The document will be distributed on CD to a targeted audience. It is not available for general distribution. The FTA will soon be distributing the document accompanied by a letter from FTA Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn. The distribution date has not been finalized. For more information contact Mr. Matthew Rabkin at the Volpe Center 617-494-3151 or rabkin@volpe.dot.gov.

FTA's Office of Research and Technology and Office of Program Management sponsored the work. Mr. Matthew Rabkin of the Planning and Policy Analysis Division led the Volpe team and Mr. Joseph LoVecchio of the Telecommunications Division served as team leader for communications; Volpe staff members were supported by on-site contractors from Cambridge Systematics, Inc.; CASE, LLC; and EG&G Technical Services, Inc. Other contributing organizations include staff from the Transit Cooperative Research Program of the Transportation Research Board, the Community Transportation Association of America, and the American Public Transportation Association.

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