GAO-02-1075T Mass Transit: Challenges in Securing Transit Systems

We appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today about mass transit safety and security in the United States. Over a year has passed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, realigned our national priorities. While most of the early attention following the September 11 terrorist attacks focused on airport security, emphasis on the other modes of transportation has since grown. Moreover, terrorist events around the world have shown that mass transit systems, like other modes of transportation, are often targets of attack. For example, roughly one-third of terrorist attacks worldwide target transportation systems, and transit systems are the mode most commonly attacked. 1 In May 2002, the Department of Transportation issued a terrorist threat advisory to the transit industry indicating that subway systems were a possible target and that the industry should remain in a heightened state of alert. Addressing transit safety and security concerns is complicated by the nature and scope of transit in the United States. About 6,000 agencies provide transit services, such as buses, subways, ferries, and light rail in the United States. Each workday, about 14 million Americans ride on some form of transit. Because the effectiveness of transit systems depends on their accessibility, security measures common in aviation are difficult to apply. Furthermore, government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels and private companies share responsibility for transit safety and security and are involved in making transit decisions. As you requested, my testimony today focuses on (1) challenges in securing mass transit systems, (2) steps transit agencies have taken to enhance safety and security, and (3) the federal role in transit safety and security. 10 site visits at transit agencies across the country and surveyed about 200 transit agencies, among other things. 3 Summary Transit agencies face significant challenges in making their systems secure. Certain characteristics make them both vulnerable and difficult to secure. For example, the high ridership of some transit agencies makes them attractive targets for terrorists but also makes certain security measures, like metal detectors, impractical. Another challenge is funding identified security enhancements. Although some security improvements, such as locking bus doors at night, have little or no cost, most improvements require substantial funding. For example, one transit agency estimated that an intrusion alarm and closed circuit television system for only one of its portals would cost approximately $250,000. According to our preliminary survey results and our interviews with …