https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Public Safety


The Government’s Been Working on the Rail Systems

The Government’s Been Working on the Rail Systems

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is testing multiple passenger and baggage screening technologies for use with rail security systems,
  • Written by Paul Rothman
  • 1st June 2004

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is testing multiple passenger and baggage screening technologies for use with rail security systems, although the newest federal rail security directive does not yet mandate deployment of the new technologies.

TSA recently finished the first phase of the passenger and baggage screening system testing at a rail station in Maryland. The second phase of the testing has been implemented at Washington’s Union Station.

“We learned a great deal about this technology and its impact on the traveler,” Rear Adm. David M. Stone (ret. US Navy), TSA’s acting administrator, says of the first testing phase. “We will use these lessons to further improve rail security.”

When the TSA plans to implement those lessons is still unclear.

The Department of Homeland Security’s first rail security directive, released in late May, merely instructs railway operators to designate security coordinators, remove certain trash cans, conduct periodic inspections and ask passengers and employees to report any suspicious activity. Bomb-sniffing dogs were also deployed by 14 subway systems, 27 light rail operations and many commuter rail networks across the country.

More specifically, the new directive requires security coordinators to submit security plans to DHS for federal review. Undersecretary for border and transportation security Asa Hutchinson says the directive will increase coordination between local and federal rail security officials. He added that many of the railways had already implemented similar procedures in reponse to the Sept. 11 attacks and the recent Madrid rail bombings.

The security directive is designed for the current terror threat status. If the level is raised, additional measures could be added.

Transit authorities have spent more than $1.7 billion from their own budgets on security, according to a recent survey by the American Public Transit Association. The survey indicates that the industry needs to spend $6 billion more for upgrading radio systems, closed circuit television, testing for chemical and biological agents, fencing, more staff, overtime and training.

TSA, meanwhile, embarks on the second phase of testing, planning to screen checked baggage that goes onto the five long-distance Amtrak trains that depart Washington’s Union Station every weekday. Screeners will use some combination of X-ray machines, bomb-sniffing dogs and handheld explosives trace detectors.

In July, TSA plans to screen passengers as they board the trains. Screeners will use an X-ray machine for carry-on baggage and a portal that checks a person for explosive residue. It has not yet been indicated which trains will be selected for the passenger test.

The experiments are expected to yield important data on the effectiveness of screening equipment in a non-climate-controlled environment, as well as cost, and impact on Amtrak operations. This knowledge will aid in prototyping a cargo screening model that could be applicable to other modes of transportation.

“What we’ve been looking for in each of these cases is the efficacy, the impact on customer service, how it can be replicated, and what kind of performance data we get out of the equipment,” said Mark Hatfield, director of communication for the TSA.

The key obstacle in screening railway passengers is doing it fast enough so the trains can still run on time.

The final phase of the pilot program will involve setting up a mobile screening operation, according to Hatfield.

Some in Congress believe the TSA is not doing enough to secure railways. In April, a Senate committee approved spending more than $1 billion to protect railroads and mass transit systems from terrorist attacks.

Edward Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department, recently criticized the Bush Administration for short-changing rail security with “press releases and vague warnings.”

“Workers are simply not being trained to perform the security duties that come with being the eyes and ears of our transportation system,” Wytkind says. “We need a government that treats workers as partners, that seeks their input and advice, that mandates and funds security training, and that stops political finger-pointing when it comes to securing our transportation system.”

Wytkind adds that additional federal funding and federally-mandated training programs could go a long way toward fixing the rail security problem.

Tags: Public Safety

Most Recent


  • Increase in emergency response time caused by insufficient staffing, traffic congestion
    The pandemic has detrimentally impacted cities and counties in a lot of different ways, including an increase in emergency response time in some cities—a symptom of challenges like congested streets and staffing shortages. In New Orleans, for example, a report from AH Analytics commissioned by the New Orleans City Council found it takes an average […]
  • Death toll continues to rise in Kentucky as more severe weather sweeps through the region
    Appalachia is underwater—at least 30 people have died in historic flooding that’s brought Kentucky to its knees for the second time in two years, following the devastating tornado that cut across the state in December. Severe weather is continuing to hit the region even as the death toll rises. “If things weren’t hard enough on […]
  • license plates
    Police adopt license plate readers at an accelerating pace
    Without a doubt, more law enforcement agencies are acquiring automated license plate reader cameras and technology (ALPR). Study producer Transparency Market Research (TMR) expects the global ALPR market to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9 percent during the forecast period, 2020 to 2030. Much of the growth is linked to a rise […]
  • disabilities
    Key considerations for local governments seeking compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that one-in-four adults in the Unites States are living with disability, and that number may still rise as our largest generation, the Baby Boomers, continue to age. Though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is more than 30 years old, continuing to inventory and address the accessibility of […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • How governments can keep employees safe as they return to work
  • Preventing cyber-attacks needs to be a priority for local governments
  • Building community and officer wellness through data sharing
  • California city combines advanced technology with dedicated public safety team for comprehensive emergency management

White papers


Modern American Perspectives on Law Enforcement

14th July 2022

Reimagine the Employee Experience

12th July 2022

How to Assemble a Rockstar Website Redesign Steering Committee

7th June 2022
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

$52B semiconductor investment intended to rejuvenate American manufacturing dlvr.it/SWPqHQ

10th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

How capital improvement project prioritization helps secure infrastructure funding dlvr.it/SWLQB7

9th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Climate bill lauded; predicted to reduce nation’s carbon foot print by 40% within decade dlvr.it/SWHGQL

8th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Partnership launches no-cost wastewater monitoring service for local governments dlvr.it/SW7N74

5th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

Investing in America’s onsite wastewater treatment systems for equity and sustainability dlvr.it/SW4Mb9

4th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

With passage of PACT Act, veterans service officers are preparing for an influx in applicants dlvr.it/SW4KTg

4th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

The 5 Procurement Superpowers Shaping the Future of Public Procurement dlvr.it/SW4DqT

4th August 2022
AmerCityCounty

This exclusive whitepaper presents the most recent nationwide data that give an unbiased view of how residents real… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

3rd August 2022

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X