Transit Security Preparedness (2020)

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1 The objective of TCRP Synthesis Project J-07/Topic SA-48, “Transit Security Pre- paredness: Current Practices,” was to identify current practices transit systems can use to enhance their security measures and to identify opportunities to apply security technology applications used in other industries to the transit environment. This synthesis gathers information on current practices and security measures through a literature review, a survey, and spotlights/case examples with a particular focus on employee and customer awareness; security presence; partnerships with stakeholders, both internal and external; and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). Federal agencies such as DHS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the FTA, and the FRA play a role in transit security preparedness. National organizations such as APTA provide information, recommended practices, and information-sharing opportunities. Local agencies such as the local police and social service agencies also play an important role in security preparedness. Security affects many aspects of a transit system—employees, passengers, agency morale and reputation, and the community—and comprises a broad array of laws, technology, and procedures. APTA Transit Security Fundamentals: Security Operations for Public Transit (APTA 2013e) identifies the key elements of transit system security preparedness: • Protection of assets; • Use of visible, unpredictable deterrence; • Targeted training for key staff; • Preparedness drills and exercises; and • Awareness campaigns for public and transit employees. Security measures can range from policing, personnel, and training, to technology, infor- mation management, policy, and legislation. When an agency selects and implements secu- rity measures, a variety of institutional, legal, and budgetary constraints are considered. Even though there are many similarities in operations and functions between larger and smaller transit agencies, one size does not fit all in the context of security preparedness. A security preparedness strategy is dependent on the risks to the transit system. Agencies must consider the costs, time to implement, training requirements, and ease of use of each strategy, as well as the interplay between multiple countermeasures and deployment strategies implemented. An effective preparedness strategy today is a comprehensive strategy, one that is multi- faceted and layered, taking into account the benefits of systematic security approaches deployed jointly or in tandem. It includes the following: • Policies, plans and protocols that specifically describe the agency’s approaches and are integrated into the daily business of the agency; S U M M A R Y Transit Security Preparedness

2 Transit Security Preparedness • Security staffing decisions that can be difficult, since adding personnel is often the most costly operating expenditure that an agency will face; • Technology that requires technical staff, cybersecurity resilience, a proactive approach to additions/upgrades, and willingness to address the issues, such as privacy and civil rights, that can arise; and • Training for employees, contractors, and partners that covers all aspects of an agency’s security strategy and provides actionable information to better handle emergencies and security events. Sixty percent of the Transit Security Preparedness survey respondents rate their agency’s efforts to address their major security challenges as somewhat or very successful. However, only 25% say they have implemented any security risk reduction program that they consider to be exceptional or exemplary. Particular issues of concern to the respondent agencies were • Assaults. Almost 85% of the agencies experienced assaults against passengers in the past year, and 75% experienced assaults against operators in the same period. • Fare evasion. Almost 92% of the survey participants experience incidents of fare evasion, with 35% of the agencies having more than 100 incidents in the past year. • Trespassing. Three-quarters (75%) of the transit agency respondents experienced tres- passing incidents in the previous year, and more than 25% had more than 100 trespassing incidents in the previous year. • Quality of life issues. All of the transit agency respondents experienced disorderly persons/conduct and drunkenness/liquor law violations in the previous year. More than 60% of the transit agency respondents experienced eating/drinking/loud music infractions in the previous year. • Homelessness/vagrancy. Almost 85% of the Transit Security Preparedness agency respon- dents experienced homeless/vagrancy incidents in the previous year, with 32% having more than 100 incidents of each in the previous year. A security preparedness strategy is dependent on the unique operational parameters of the transit agency. However, this study found that there are common themes in all effective security preparedness approaches. • Information sharing is essential. Sharing and collaboration with federal agencies and other transit agencies for intelligence provide critical information on current and poten- tial future risks and what can be done to reduce those risks, through both lessons learned and examples of effective implementation practices. Threat and criminal trending can be accessed through these partnerships, allowing a data-based approach for security. • Collaboration and cooperation are also essential. Federal and state agencies can provide resources, audits, and access to security programs that support system security. • Partnering with local law enforcement needs to be part of every transit agency’s secu- rity program, even if not contracted for or part of formal agreements. Because all transit agencies operate within one or more jurisdictions, positive working relationships and collaboration with all jurisdictions in the transit service area are necessary to support agency security. • Engagement of employees and of passengers and public is important. Employees are the “eyes and ears” of the agency and often essential participants in agency security– related initiatives. The riding public also are “eyes and ears” for the agency. Both the riding and the nonriding public influence the perception of the security of the agency and play a major role in influencing the community and political support for the security preparedness program an agency can implement. Suggestions for further study include research to support transit agency approaches that address new or evolving issues. TCRP research projects are already planned to address fare

Summary 3 evasion and trespassing. Research into effective approaches to address quality of life issues would be beneficial for transit agencies. Research into new technology would also be valu- able. Many transit agencies are using, or planning to use, smartphone apps. Although many agencies are purchasing apps from the same vendors or apps that have similar capabilities, there are differences in what the apps can do and the approaches that are taken by the agency in the use of the app. Research into the different approaches that transit agencies are taking with smartphone apps will support the transit community in identifying what the essential features of the apps are and how to effectively implement apps to achieve the goals of the transit agency.