Leveraging ITS to Enhance Leveraging ITS to Enhance Transit SecurityTransit Security

Eva Lerner-Lam, PresidentEva Lerner-Lam, PresidentPalisades Consulting Group, Inc.Palisades Consulting Group, Inc.

Presented at thePresented at the2003 Annual Meeting of ITS America Rhode Island2003 Annual Meeting of ITS America Rhode Island

Warwick, RIWarwick, RISeptember 17, 2003September 17, 2003

PALISADES

Transit in the Nation’s ServiceTransit in the Nation’s Service

Nearly 10 billion annual passenger tripsNearly 10 billion annual passenger trips556 public transportation operators in 556 public transportation operators in urban areas; urban areas; 1,260 organizations that provide public 1,260 organizations that provide public transportation services in rural areas; and, transportation services in rural areas; and, 3,660 organizations that provide public 3,660 organizations that provide public transportation services to the elderly and transportation services to the elderly and disabled people. disabled people.

PALISADES

Transit is a Target…Transit is a Target…

Armed AssaultArmed AssaultHostage TakingHostage TakingChemical Release Chemical Release On BoardOn BoardExplosive on BoardExplosive on BoardChemical OutsideChemical OutsideExplosive/Sabotage Explosive/Sabotage OutsideOutside

PALISADES

Transit is also Critical for Transit is also Critical for Evacuation and RecoveryEvacuation and Recovery

Dependable, multi-Dependable, multi-agency, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional jurisdictional communications communications systems are essentialsystems are essentialAdded responsibilities Added responsibilities for employeesfor employees

PALISADES

Transit Performs Well Under StressTransit Performs Well Under Stress

9/11 9/11 August 14, 2003 BlackoutAugust 14, 2003 BlackoutLA OlympicsLA OlympicsLoma Prieta EarthquakeLoma Prieta EarthquakeEvery day crisesEvery day crises7-stage color-coded warning system7-stage color-coded warning system

PALISADES

What’s Important What’s Important

1.1. Knowing our VulnerabilitiesKnowing our Vulnerabilities2.2. Having Plans (Plan A, Plan B, etc.)Having Plans (Plan A, Plan B, etc.)3.3. Training, Drilling and PracticingTraining, Drilling and Practicing

PALISADES

How Can ITS Help?How Can ITS Help?

1.1. Knowing our VulnerabilitiesKnowing our Vulnerabilities Surveillance video, data systemsSurveillance video, data systems Detection IT firewalls, chemical sensorsDetection IT firewalls, chemical sensors Trend analyses data collection /analysisTrend analyses data collection /analysis ““Connecting the dots” models and Connecting the dots” models and

simulationssimulations

PALISADES

How Can ITS Help?How Can ITS Help?

2.2. Having PlansHaving Plans Planning must be multi-jurisdictional and Planning must be multi-jurisdictional and

multi-agency, so interoperable multi-agency, so interoperable communications is essentialcommunications is essential

National ITS architecture, standards and National ITS architecture, standards and protocols provide strong frameworkprotocols provide strong framework

PALISADES

How Can ITS Help?How Can ITS Help?

3.3. Training, Drilling and PracticingTraining, Drilling and Practicing Evacuation instructions Evacuation instructions

ATIS for employees and customersATIS for employees and customers

PALISADES

ITS Depends on the People Who ITS Depends on the People Who Spec the DevicesSpec the Devices

9/11 helped galvanize 9/11 helped galvanize multi-agency, multi-multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional jurisdictional coordination at the coordination at the local levellocal levelCommunications, Communications, communications, communications, communications = communications = ITSITS

PALISADES

Looking to the Future…Looking to the Future…

1.1. Keep up the good work!Keep up the good work!2.2. Leverage human cooperation…to Leverage human cooperation…to

leverage ITS…to enhance transit leverage ITS…to enhance transit security security

3.3. Understand that ITS for transit is not so Understand that ITS for transit is not so much “the technology” but “getting data much “the technology” but “getting data to flow”to flow”

4.4. Voila! “ITS = Getting data to flow = Voila! “ITS = Getting data to flow = enhanced transit security”enhanced transit security”