Projects

The transportation system is an important network established to ensure the mobility of people and goods between destinations. In addition, it also serves a vital role in responding to disasters, and therefore deserves special attention when those disasters threaten to decrease its support capability. The importance of maintaining this capability is highlighted by the inclusion of transportation system security as a separate planning factor in the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users legislation. Incorporating security into the transportation planning process should be an ongoing effort of the state department of transportation (DOT), requiring modification as feedback of implementation methods is received. It does not mean transforming this transportation agency into a security agency, but rather incorporating a security perspective into the analysis of the system. This first involves establishing a more solid role as a coordinator in order to solidify vital linkages between agencies relevant to security planning. This interaction should reveal standardization issues the DOT can address in order to ensure effective collaboration, communication and coordination. Funding security measures may be difficult; but by incorporating security measures into initial analysis and planning processes, they can be brought into the broader concept of the system rather than simply added as additional funding needs. Nine roles are identified in this research for state DOTs to overcome these and other challenges faced in the process of incorporating security into the transportation planning process. Through these roles, state DOTs can ensure that security efforts reach the parts of the system that require them and begin to build a more secure system.

Note: Partial funding for this project came from the Southern Transportation Center