BACKGROUND

The nation's transportation system users and operators are at risk from a variety of threats both natural and human caused. Responding to threats and events in a timely and well-planned manner is critical to the nation's economy, mobility, and security. Having reliable, easily understood information about the need for and cost of transportation infrastructure security requirements is critical to assisting decision makers in making funding decisions. This project will focus on developing outreach materials to apprise the Department of Homeland Security of timely and well-analyzed information regarding needs and costs of the many aspects of transportation security.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to translate a variety of information and data sources into an easily understood document and supporting slide show for use in briefing the Department of Homeland Security in understanding the complex security funding needs of State transportation agencies.

TASKS

1. Research: To gather, review and distill all available information on the national transportation infrastructure security needs of State transportation agencies (i.e. National Needs Assessment, Emergency Response Needs, policy positions and estimates prepared by various associations, research projects, and available information from Federal Agencies).
2. Document preparation: Prepare a concise easy to understand and quickly absorbed document to be used in briefing the Department of Homeland Security. Security needs include making the transportation infrastructure more secure as well as making transportation more responsive in emergency situations for terrorist related incidents either on or off the transportation system. This document should highlight the risks to all 52 states, and include an example from each state. The focus should be on (1) the security products and services of transportation agencies, (2) the gaps identified through organization-specific vulnerability and criticality assessments as well as national needs assessments, and (3) the consequent needs. The deliverable of task 1 will be a ready-to-print, full color, easy to read, illustrated document, no more than 15-20 pages in length.
3. Slideshow preparation: The printed product developed in Task 2 will support a 20-minute PowerPoint slide show that is the intended product of Task 3. The slide show should consist of 15 to 20 slides with good photographs, explaining what we do; who the players are; why it is important that transportation cooperates; setting the national situation, with a range of local examples. Some points to be made include:
a. Transportation agencies own most infrastructure targets
b. DOTs are initial responders because of the large, geographically dispersed, trained workforce
c. Transportation plays a key role across the response and recovery spectrum from quarantine to evacuation
d. Transportation agencies own robust, statewide communications systems for radio and ITS, and frequently own the systems used by state police
e. DOTs are diverse in their responsibilities (for example, 18 have vehicle registration and drivers licensing, 15 regulate commercial vehicles, 2 have the state police or highway patrol within the DOT)
f. DOTs do not want to be at odds with first responders for monies, recognizing the critical support role DOTs play

Status: The final report was received in January 2005. Based on the work of this project, an AASHTO publication was distributed in February 2005. It is available at https://security.transportation.org/sites/security/docs/Protecting_Americas_Roads.pdf
Protecting America's Roads, Bridges, and Tunnels: The Role of State DOTs in Homeland Security (PDF - 1.2M)
On September 11, 2001, state departments of transportation (DOTs) - builders and operators of the nation's busiest roads, tunnels, and bridges - were reminded vividly about the vital role that transportation often plays when emergency situations occur. This brochure gives an overview of why the security of our roads, bridges, and tunnels is important, what DOTs are doing to improve it, and the keys to better partnership.