Background: Emergencies arising from terrorist threats highlight the need for transportation managers to minimize the vulnerability of people and assets through incident prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Managers are seeking to reduce the chances that transportation vehicles and facilities are targets or instruments of terrorist attacks and to be prepared to respond to and recover from such possibilities. The Transit Cooperative Research Program has budgeted $2.75 million for coordinated security-related research in FY 2002 through FY 2006 (see https://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=1186). The National Cooperative Highway Research Program has budgeted $6.5 million in FY 2002 through FY 2010 for coordinated security-related research (see https://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=644). A consolidated list of these and other security-related projects is updated monthly and posted online (see https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/dva/CRP-SecurityResearch.pdf). TRB-published reports can be accessed at www.TRB.org/SecurityPubs.
Although a wealth of new resources is now available or under development through the cooperative research programs, TRB and the National Academies have generated extensive information on these issues in recent years. The TRB Transportation System Security website (https://www.trb.org/Activities/Security/TransportationSecurity1.asp) brings together much of this information. Also included are links to other related websites that contain discussions of issues, actions which can be taken, guidance, and training opportunities. The TRB Transportation System Security website is sponsored by the TRB Committee on Critical Transportation Infrastructure Protection (https://sites.google.com/site/trbcommitteeabe40/) and is updated regularly.
The AASHTO Special Committee on Transportation Security and Emergency Management (formerly the Task Force on Transportation Security) and the APTA Executive Committee Security Affairs Steering Committee provide steering direction to the coordinated Cooperative Research Programs Security Research under NCHRP and TCRP, respectively. In addition, a technical panel provides all-hazards, all modes oversight and project selection guidance through NCHRP Project Panel 20-59, Surface Transportation Security Research, was in effect through 2014. In 2016, the 20-59 panel became responsible for NCHRP's projects on resilience.
Objective: The objective of this program is to provide flexible, ongoing, quick-response research on transportation issues related to resilience, emergency incident prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, paying particular attention to potential terrorist threats. Such research should be designed to develop improvements to analytical methods, decision support tools, procedures, and techniques employed by practitioners to support statewide, local, and metropolitan transportation organizations in planning, exercising, and evaluating their security programs. Among the specific subject areas under consideration for additional projects are the following:
1. Security Assessment
2. Infrastructure Hardening
3. Counter-Terrorism Tools for Transportation Incidents
4. Transit Security/Counter-Terrorism Practices
5. Emergency-Response Preparedness and Training
6. Information Technology Crisis Response Procedures
7. Evacuation Planning
8. Business Recovery
Status: In a joint meeting with the AASHTO Special Committee on Transportation Security (SCOTS) and with interested federal agencies, in August 2007 the project panel identified $2 million in research needs which should be addressed over the next 3 years. Starting with (1) the strategic priorities identified and ratified by SCOTS members, the parties (2) reviewed progress in the NCHRP 20-59 projects, (3) reviewed problem statements identified in a draft Security Research Plan, (4) reviewed security and emergency management-related research needs identified by TRB committees in the Research Needs Statements database, and (5) reviewed security and emergency management problem statements submitted through the open solicitations of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, Transit Cooperative Research Program, and National Cooperative Freight Research Program. After the group identified projects that support the SCOTS strategic priorities, the 20-59 panel refined the list of projects. The 3-year research plan was accepted by the AASHTO Standing Committee on Research at its March 2008 meeting, and $600,000 was allocated as the first of three funding installments. New projects were programmed in consultation with the SCOTS Leadership Team when the 20-59 panel met in August 2008 and August 2009. A joint meeting was held in August 2009 with what is now SCOTSEM (the AASHTO Special Committee on Transportation Security & Emergency Management), SCOWCoT (the AASHTO Special Committee on Wireless Communications Trechnology), and the TRB Committee on Critical Transportation Infrastructure Protection, with FHWA and the TSA Highway and Motor Carrier Division. In August 2010 SCOTSEM, SCOWCoT, and the 20-59 panel met with FHWA, TSA Highway and Motor Carrier Division, and the DHS Science & Technology Directorate's Infrastructure and Geophysical Division.
Security-related TRB publications can be found at www.TRB.org/SecurityPubs. Information on security projects funded through the TCRP is available at https://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=1186. A consolidated status report listing 20-59 and other security-related projects is updated monthly and posted online at
https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/dva/CRP-SecurityResearch.pdf. A comprehensive slideshow "TRB Resilience" is available at www.TRB.org/SecurityPubs.
NCHRP Project 20-59(1) AASHTO Security Research Workshop and Forum
NCHRP Project 20-59(2) Bridge/Tunnel/Highway Infrastructure Vulnerability Assessment Workshops
NCHRP Project 20-59(3) FHWA/AASHTO Blue Ribbon Panel on Bridge and Tunnel Security
NCHRP Project 20-59(4) White Paper on Highway Security Issues for Reauthorization
NCHRP Project 20-59(5) National Needs Assessment for Ensuring Transportation Infrastructure Security
NCHRP Project 20-59(6) State DOT Field Personnel Security Manual
NCHRP Project 20-59(6A) State DOT Field Personnel Security CD-ROM Training Programs
NCHRP Project 20-59(6B) Enhanced State DOT Participation in NTI Train-the-Trainer Workshops for Security Awareness
NCHRP Project 20-59(7) Transportation Security Information Clearinghouse
NCHRP Project 20-59(8) Emergency Transportation Operations Preparedness and Response Workshop: Adaptations for Rural and International Border Crossing Situations
NCHRP Project 20-59(9) Methods for Determining Transportation and Economic Consequences of Terrorist Attacks
NCHRP Project 20-59(10) Secure Communication Infrastructure
NCHRP Project 20-59(11) Emergency Traffic Operations Management
NCHRP Project 20-59(12) Follow-up Security and Emergency Response Survey of State Transportation Agencies
NCHRP Project 20-59(13A) Follow-up on A Guide to Updating Emergency Reponse Plans for Terrorist Incidents
NCHRP Project 20-59(13B) Follow-up on A Guide to Highway Vulnerability Assessment for Critical Asset Identification and Protection
NCHRP Project 20-59(14) Transportation Security: Sharing Information and Task Force Support
NCHRP Project 20-59(15) AASHTO Modifications of Consultant Reports
NCHRP Project 20-59(16) Preparation of Educational Materials: Outreach
NCHRP Project 20-59(16)A Preparation of Educational Materials: Funding Guide
NCHRP Project 20-59(17) Guide to Risk Management of Multi-modal Transportation Infrastructure
NCHRP Project 20-59(18)/TCRP Project J-10C Guidelines for Transportation Emergency Training Drills and Exercises
NCHRP Project 20-59(19) Transportation Response Options: Scenarios of Infectious Disease, Biological Agents, Chemical, Radiological, or Nuclear Exposure
NCHRP Project 20-59(20) Enhanced Communications Interoperability: Assessment of Emerging Voice/Data Integration Tools
Status: This project has been cancelled.
NCHRP Project 20-59(21)/TCRP Project J-10F Transportation Agency Continuity of Operations Plans
NCHRP Project 20-59(22) Guidelines for Emergency Quarantine Closures of Local and State Roads
NCHRP Project 20-59(23) A Guide to Emergency Response Planning at State Transportation Agencies
NCHRP Project 20-59(24)/TCRP Project J-10E A Guide to Transportation and Hazards Resources
NCHRP Project 20-59(25) Security Research Plan
NCHRP Project 20-59(26) National Needs Assessment for Transportation Security
NCHRP Project 20-59(27) / 8-36(53) Peer Review of Disaster Response Issues in Transportation Planning
NCHRP Project 20-59(28) Security 101: Physical Security Standards and Guidelines for Transportation
NCHRP Project 20-59(29) TransportationSecurity Research Implementation Plan
NCHRP Project 20-59(30) Role of Transportation in the Incident Command System Structure & the National Incident Management System Structure
NCHRP Project 20-59(31) Co-Location of Emergency Operations Centers and Intelligent Transportation Centers
NCHRP Project 20-59(32) A Transportation Guide for All Hazards Emergency Evacuation
NCHRP Project 20-59(33) Pre-Event Planning to Support Transportation Infrastructure Recovery
NCHRP Project 20-59(34) Methodologies to Estimate the Economic Impacts of Disruptions to the Goods Movement System
NCHRP Project 20-59(35) Securing Transportation Structures, Systems, and Facilities—Long Term R&D Plan
NCHRP Project 20-59(36) Catastrophic Transportation Emergency Management Guidebook
NCHRP Project 20-59(37) Debris Management Handbook for State and Local DOTs: with Successful Practices by DOTs to Obtain State and FEMA Public Assistance Reimbursement
NCHRP Project 20-59(38) Voice and Data Interoperability for Transportation
NCHRP Project 20-59(39) Synthesis of Airport Closings and Emergency Evacuation Problems
NCHRP Project 20-59(40) Transit Wireless Communications Joint Council Establishment
NCHRP Project 20-59(41) / 20-6 Topic 17-3, Legal Definition of “First Responder”
NCHRP Project 20-67 / TCRP Project J-10G Making TransportationTunnels Safe and Secure
Product Availability: For a complete list of TRB security-related publications go to www.TRB.org/SecurityPubs.
NCHRP Report 525, Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 1, Responding to Threats: A Field Personnel Manual.
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 2: In formation Sharing and Analysis Centers: Overview and Supporting Software Features.
(Note: Vol. 3 is a product of NCHRP Project 8-36(34))
NCHRP Report 525, Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 4, A Self-Study Course on Terrorism-Related Risk Management of Highway Infrastructure.
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 5: Guidance for Transportation Agencies on Managing Sensitive In formation .
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 6: Guide for Emergency Transportation Operations
NCHRP Web-Only Document 73: Emergency Transportation Operations: Resources Guide for NCHRP Report 525, Vol. 6
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 7: System Security Awareness for Transportation Employees
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 8: Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning Guidelines for Transportation Agencies
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 9: Guidelines for Transportation Emergency Training Exercises
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 10: A Guide to Transportation's Role in Public Health Disasters
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 11: Disruption Impact Estimating Transportation (DIETT): A Tool for Prioritizing High-Value Transportation Choke Points
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 12: Making Transportation Tunnels Safe and Secure
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 13: A Guide to Traffic Control of Rural Roads in an Agricultural Emergency
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 14: Security 101, A Physical Security Primer for Transportation Agencies
NCHRP Research Results Digest 333: A Guide to Planning Resources on Transportation and Hazards
NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Vol. 15: Costing Asset Protection, An All Hazards Guide for Transportation Agencies (CAPTA)
