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Mass Transit Ensures Security for 6,000 Systems, Protects 15 Million Riders a Day

News & Happenings

November 27, 2007

The nation was shocked on Jan. 31, 2007, as it learned details of an apparent bomb hoax in Boston. Before it was over, authorities located multiple simulated explosive devices planted throughout the Boston area.

TSNM's Mass Transit Division is tasked, as one of its functions, with setting security training requirements for every transit employee in the nation, including the employee who took the first steps toward determining that the devices were, in fact, part of an elaborate hoax.

The division works to secure nearly 6,000 transit systems used by 15 million riders a day nationwide. By comparison, the nation's airlines carry about 2 million passengers per day. The systems include everything from small-town bus service to massive transit systems that include integrated bus and rail service.

TSNM Mass Transit was started in July 2006. Paul Lennon arrived at TSA four months later to lead it after serving 42 years in transit operations, security, intelligence and law enforcement within the transit industry. Starting as a rail and bus operator in Boston, Lennon now leads a team of 13 employees with backgrounds in law, law enforcement, mass transit and the Coast Guard.

"Prior to 9/11, security for mass transit had been largely viewed by the federal government as the responsibility of local law enforcement agencies," said Lennon. "The attacks of 9/11 and the existence of terrorist organizations that would deliberately target public transit systems to maximize casualties among innocent civilian populations have changed that viewpoint significantly."

Six transit security fundamentals, delivered from risk and intelligence sources, drive the division's security and risk philosophy. They are:

• training front-line transit employees in security awareness;
• maintaining visible, unpredictable measures;
• empowering riders to become the "eyes and ears" of mass transit through public awareness campaigns;
• addressing specific vulnerabilities of transit systems, including systems that travel through underwater structures (two fundamentals); and
• conducting table-top exercises (e.g., exercises that address threats, vulnerabilities and consequences) and on-the-ground simulations.

Powered by these six core fundamentals, the Mass Transit Security Division works with other DHS components to effectively manage the federal Transit Security Grants Program. It funds a range of preparedness activities, including strengthening infrastructure against potential threats. The program funded more than $171 million in grants in fiscal 2007.