The tragic events of September 11, 2001 ushered in a new era for
security and emergency preparedness in the United States. As a result,
Federal, State and local governments and transit agencies continue to
assess their capabilities to manage the risk environment. The subsequent
bombings of passenger rail systems in Madrid, London, and Mumbai
underscore the threats and vulnerabilities associated with public
transportation.
The following list of voluntary Security and Emergency Management
Action Items is an update to the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA)
Top 20 Security Program Action Items originally released in January
2003. The update has been developed by FTA and the Department of
Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and
Office of Grants & Training (OGT), in consultation with the public
transportation industry through the Mass Transit Sector Coordinating
Council, for which the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
serves as Executive Chair. The updated Action Items address current
security threats and risks that confront transit agencies today, with
particular emphasis on priority areas where gaps need to be closed in
security and emergency preparedness programs. Though this update
consolidates the previous 20 items into 17, the purpose, scope, and
objectives remain consistent. Significantly, the updated Action Items
provide improved guidance for their implementation and assessment. This
revision includes the incorporation of:
- visibility, randomness, and unpredictability into security
deployment activities;
- regional coordination among transit agencies and other
governmental entities; and
- action items whose assessment results could assist in
developing security program priorities, including guidance in
applicable grants programs.
Under the Top 20 program, FTA led the Federal assessment of
implementation of the security action items. With its field presence
through the Surface Transportation Security Inspection Program (STSIP),
lead responsibility for assessments has transitioned to the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA). A detailed checklist
guides the STSIP assessments, encompassing review of security plans,
programs, and procedures employed by transit agencies in implementing
the recommended Action Items. Advance coordination and planning ensures
the efficiency of the assessment process. Transit agencies may obtain
the checklist in advance from TSA and conduct self-assessments of their
security readiness using the 17 Action Items as an inventory framework.
FTA, TSA and OGT collaborate at the headquarters, regional and field
levels to ensure cohesive and consistent Federal guidance to the transit
industry in implementing the Action Items. The 17 Action Items are
listed in both a logical as well as a general priority order. For
example, the first program element is "Management and Accountability",
which lays the foundation by outlining the prerequisites a transit
agency should employ to put security priorities into effect. An agency
needs to have security plans and a management system (personnel and
resources) in place in order to establish and advance security
priorities. An outline of the transit security program elements covered
by the Action Items is as follows:
In summary, Security and Emergency Management Action Items for
Transit Agencies aim to elevate security readiness throughout the public
transportation industry by establishing baseline measures any transit
agency should employ. This product is intended to be dynamic, with
regular review and coordination between the Federal government and the
transit community, and updates as necessary to ensure that the
recommended measures address current security realities.