Transit systems play vital roles in the evacuations necessary as a result of emergencies, including terrorist events. This is true whether attacks are directed at transit assets or other targets. Practical strategies and guidelines are needed for mobilization of public transit systems, for both evacuation needs and in support of access and staging needs for emergency response. Evacuation and providing access at the same time present numerous opportunities for conflict; proper planning and exercising in advance of an emergency can minimize conflict.

Early on, when an event calls for the Incident Command System to be activated, lead responsibility is likely to be assumed by the fire department or an office of emergency management. To ensure judicious use of transit assets, transit authorities need to play an active role in response planning. Transit knowledge can have significant benefit in location decisions made regarding command posts, staging areas, mass care, and mass shelter; for example, travel time and travel reliability are affected by knowing where you can "turn" trains or refuel vehicles.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to develop practical strategies and guidelines for mobilization of public transit systems, both for evacuation needs and in support of access and staging needs for emergency response. Emergency-response support planning should cover both initial and sustained response. Research products must include a final report and a stand-alone set of guidelines; proposers are encouraged to identify specific deliverables, such as printed and electronic documents, checklists, and job aids (e.g., laminated wallet cards for employees).

Issues that should be considered in the research include:

1. working with partner organizations
2. relevant lessons learned from transit participation in large-scale evacuations
3. system-integrity assessment prior to resuming operations
4. alternate and auxiliary control facilities
5. alternate reporting and fueling bases
6. provision of sanitation, drinking water, and power at alternate and auxiliary facilities
7. liaison to the Incident Command System
8. evacuation of persons with disabilities and non-English speakers
9. inventorying transit assets for use in planning responses to emergencies (e.g., use of bus wash systems for decontamination)
10. use of paratransit organizations and assets as part of the response team (e.g., scheduling and dispatching systems and personnel)
11. budget planning and contract issues
12. information-technology procedures required to support emergency evacuation

Status: Published as TCRP Report 86, Volume 7, Public Transportation Security: Public Transportation Emergency Mobilization and Emergency Operations Guide. Appendix B survey of U.S. public transportation systems is available as TCRP Web-Only Document 25.

Recently released documents on Transportation Security are listed at https://www.TRB.org/SecurityPubs.