This Week in Passenger Transport
November 5, 2002
(posted from the Nov. 5, 2001, issue of Passenger Transport)
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta appeared as the keynote speaker during
the National Transportation Security Summit held Oct. 30 in Washington, which attracted
approximately 300 federal, state, regional, and local transportation officials and transit
agency representatives from throughout the nation.
Mineta urged the audience representing about 60 transit systems and 28 state DOTs to
rethink the way it provides for the safety and security of its passengers.
He said the newly created U.S. DOT National Infrastructure Security Committee focusing
on intermodal transportation security issues had identified high-value, high-consequence
transportation assets and existing associated protection strategies. Moreover, he said
U.S. DOT was developing a set of national standards to ensure protection of these assets.
Mineta, who used the forum to announce strong airport security enforcement measures,
said U.S. DOT also is trying to find ways to improve information sharing and dissemination
of threat information between government and industry.
The one-day National Transportation Security Summit, which exceeded attendance
expectations, was presented by the Mineta Transportation Institute and sponsored by APTA,
the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the California
DOT, and the U.S. DOT Research and Special Programs Administration. The summit, titled
"Protecting Public Surface Transportation Against Terrorism and Serious Crime,"
was organized in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and to the government’s
warning that more attacks are possible.
Several important lessons emerged from the summit, which featured some of the top
surface transportation safety and security experts. Speakers emphasized the importance of
agencies to have effective communication during times of crisis, having crisis management
and emergency preparedness plans in place, as well as an assessment of system
vulnerabilities.
Other major points outlined during the summit included the need for transit properties
to drill often and train employees for emergency situations, and to instill a security
mindset throughout their organizations and among their passengers.
Speakers also highlighted the need for agency leaders to be personally committed to
emergency preparedness, and for their agencies to adopt an overall proactive approach to
crisis management. Throughout the summit, speakers reiterated the importance of having
effective coordination and collaboration with all possible stakeholders in the area
affected by a crisis, such as fire and police departments.
Brian Michael Jenkins, the Mineta Transportation Institute’s counter-terrorism
research team leader, presented MTI’s new report, "Protecting Public Surface
Transportation Against Terrorism and Serious Crime."
Other summit speakers included APTA Chair Peter M. Cipolla; AASHTO Executive Director
John Horsley; Caltrans Director Jeff Morales; MTI Executive Director Rod Diridon, who
moderated the summit; Robert H. Prince Jr., general manager of the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority; and Christine Johnson, program manager of the Operations Core
Business Unit at the Federal Highway Administration.
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