Can the “Imbalance” of Resources Between Aviation & Surface Transportation Security Be Changed?

Marc Pearl President & CEO Homeland Security & Defense Business Council

The Problem Rail/Public Transport Faces…

“A commercial airliner has the capacity to kill 3,000

people. A bomb in a subway car may kill thirty people.

When you start to think about your priorities, you’re

going to think about making sure you don't have a

catastrophic thing first.”

– Michael Chertoff, Former Secretary U.S.

Department of Homeland Security

$7,600

$5,254

$1,032 $966 $165 $135

$0$1,000$2,000$3,000$4,000$5,000$6,000$7,000$8,000

FY 2012 (In Millions USD)

U.S. Funding – TSA’s 2012 Budget As an Example

Source: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012

ALL Transportation Sectors are

Vulnerable, but…

• 25,000 security breaches at airports since 9/11 (USA Today)

• 250 global terrorist attacks at Rail/Public Transport targets since 1995, resulting in 900 deaths/6,000 injuries. • Buses (32%); Tourist/School buses (8%); & Bus Terminals (7%) = 47%

• Subways/Train (26%); Train Stations (12%); and Rails (8%) = 46%

• Bridges and Tunnels = 5%

(“other” = 2%)

• Rail provides easy access to

larger crowds and readily

available escape routes. • They are highly public & can

cause large disruptions quickly.

Madrid, 2004

So, if the Rail & Public

Transport Sectors are, at

least, equally vulnerable,

then why doesn’t Mass

Transport receive more

security funding?

Transport Security Market Outside of

Airports Occupies a Very Interesting Space

Disruption of air travel has historically been the primary focus

of terrorists (& governments), but not the only focus

Greater attention (and, therefore, funding) to air travel is a

combination of 2 things:

1. People “accept” a flawed model (Secure departure point = safe

journey) that allows for a discrete investment at a location, high

public visibility (TSA), and a feeling of safety.

2. The public fears aviation attacks as visible threats/disruptions

that spread fear. Given that most train activity is cargo – such

incidents don’t create as much panic when they are targeted.

Public Transport Security Very Difficult to Achieve

Requires large, expensive, and significant infrastructure development – much more than aviation.

Questions surrounding the gains that can be made to truly secure ground transportation.

Perceived limitations as to how much damage terrorists can do in mass transit to the greater community in any event.

Primary reason for receiving so little funding:

o Policy leaders have concluded that investments in mass transit security are enormously inefficient.

o Unlike airports, “securing” rail traffic requires departure point screening and continuous monitoring of the track for the entire trip, and at each stop along the way.

What Then is Needed?

Gathering of intelligence;

“True” information sharing among 1st responders and local law enforcement; and

Figuring out how to preempt attacks, rather than securing the point of attack, thereby mitigating the impact of any attack.

Sources of Funding

Greater Communication

Awareness & Sensitivity

Greater Information Sharing

• Information Sharing within the industry is crucial. Need to

establish/exchange best practices/lessons learned so that

there will be a collection of enough data points to

determine what is or isn’t working.

• Look at/share Best Practices from other industries and

countries.

Irish Republican Army Mumbai, 2006

Communication with 1st Responders Spotting “Trends” Before the Incident

• U.S. freight rail systems have developed an Integrated

Security Plan across the network

• Need to look at ‘observable’ activities long before an

incident occurs

• Focuses on identifying “TRENDS”/Indicators – Long before an

incident occurs

• Not just an incident report of what happened (a terrorist or

criminal incident), but why and where did it start

• Sharing Threat Information – in U.S. SSI (Sensitive Security

Information)

• And – particularly in Europe – develop even better

‘Cross Border’ Information Sharing

Communication/Engagement Public Transport Sector, Solution Providers &

Government

• What are the inhibitors of earlier and more

substantive communication between the

transportation operators and their private sector

security solutions providers?

• What are the major issues inhibiting greater

communication, coordination, collaboration,

cooperation with governmental agencies?

Best Practices of Other Sectors?

• Greater Public Awareness & Encouraging Involvement

(“See Something, Say Something”)

• Random searches

• Dogs

• Video placement

• Track sweeping

• Develop Internal Standards that are voluntary, not

mandated

• Systems Approach to Safety, Emergency

Preparedness/Management & Security

• “Peer Reviews” – Security/Vulnerability Assessments

Related Sources

• Mineta Transportation Institute www.transweb.sjsu.edu • A research institute at San Jose State University focusing on

surface transportation. A rich source of original research and analysis on security within the industry.

• American Public Transportation Association www.apta.com/ • U.S. based but with global reach, organization focusing on

passenger rail and provides original research and establishes industry standards & best practice

• It’s Surface Transportation Information Sharing & Analysis Center collects, analyzes, and disseminates alerts and incident reports to their membership and helps the Government understand impacts for their sector.