Palisades Transit Security Newsletter

Palisades Transit Security Newsletter

Volume 3, Number 11 June 1, 2004

A Publication by Palisades Group USA Printer-Friendly Version

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National Update

Current Homeland Security Threat Level: “Yellow—Elevated Risk of Terrorist Attacks.”

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=29.

Federal Transit Administration’s Threat Level Response Recommendation:
http://www.transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/security/SecurityInitiatives/ThreatLevel/default.asp

Explosion Hits Russian Train Near Chechnya
A passenger train was hit by a bomb blast in southern Russia on Saturday, May 29, 2004 as rebels stepped up attacks in neighboring Chechnya. The passenger train was traveling from Moscow to Vladikavkaz, capital of the autonomous republic of North Ossetia, when a powerful explosive device placed under the rails detonated. See: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004053001961201.htm&date=2004/05/30/&prd=th& DHS Announces New Measures to Expand Security for Rail Passengers: New Directives Call for Immediate Action from Commuter, Transit and Inter-city Rail
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued Security Directives (SD) requiring protective measures to be implemented by passenger rail operators. The measures instruct commuter, transit and inter-city passenger rail systems to comply with requirements that range from removing or replacing station trash cans to utilizing canine explosives detection teams. See: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3572 Free Transit Training Video: System Security Awareness for Transit Employees - Warning Signs
[This is a repeat article that first appeared in the May 15, 2004 issue of this publication. “Warning Signs” is an excellent video—don’t miss it!—Ed.]
“Warning Signs” is a fifteen-minute fast-paced video presentation on the key aspects of system security for transit employees. This highly effective video will increase the viewer's awareness of what to look for and what to do regarding suspicious activity, packages, devices, and substances. It is available in three Windows Media formats for downloading to hard drives or watching without saving. See: http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/Security/TrainingTools/ Transit Standards Consortium to Present National Teleconference on "Getting the Most for your Transit Security Technology Dollar"
Transportation security has become a key consideration for transportation system designers and engineers since the 9/11 attacks, so transit agencies are purchasing on-board video systems, infrared detection systems, radio communications systems…but are they getting the most for their investments? The Transit Standards Consortium (www.tsconsortium.org) will be sponsoring a National Teleconference on June 8, 2004 from 12 noon to 1 pm Eastern Time to explore ways in which such procurements can be handled cost-effectively and efficiently.

Presenters John Walsh, Chief Maintenance Officer, MTA New York City Transit, Department of Buses (www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/bus/) and Jim Kemp, Technology Manager, NJ Transit Corporation (www.njtransit.com) will present their recommendations on how to deploy transit security technology in a cost-effective, intelligent way, followed by commentary by Discussants Robert Gave of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (www.vta.org) and David Gaier of Urbitran (www.urbitran.com).

The teleconference will be moderated by Tom Sullivan, TSC Board Member, Chair of the TSC Technical Council and President of Transportation Systems Design, Inc. (www.tsd.org). The event is co-sponsored by the Transportation Development Institute (www.tanddi.org) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (www.asce.org) and The Infrastructure Security Partnership (www.tisp.org). See: http://www.tsconsortium.org/TSC2004/June8.2004/Announcement.htm

Palisades Team News

Palisades Team Director Eva Lerner-Lam presented an invited keynote address at the “8th International Conference of Application of Advanced Technologies in Transportation” on May 26, 2004 in Beijing, China. The title of her talk was “Advanced Transportation Technologies in the Global War against Terrorism.” The Conference was sponsored by the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, Ministry of Communications, China and the American Society of Civil Engineers. See: http://www.palisadesgroup.com/presentations/presentation_5.26.04.ppt

Palisades Transit Security Newsletter is published twice monthly as a free service to the transit community.

Publisher: Eva Lerner-Lam () Managing Editor: Ellen Thompson ()

Contributors: John Banner, Charles Barker, Said Easa, Ed Fuller, Ken Harvey, Mimi Hwang, Monica Isbell, Bernie Jacobsen, Larry Johnson, Jim Kemp, George Kovatch, Ronald Libengood, Michael McAfee, Greg Miles, Frank Montes de Oca, Kevin O’Brien, Kim Petersen, Russ Rogers