Title: Anastasia LoukaitouSideris
1Rail Transit Security in an International Context
Security Issues and Impacts Conference UCLA, June
1, 2006
- Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris
- Department of Urban Planning, UCLA
- A Collaborative Research Project
- UCLA Department of Urban Planning
- UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies
2- For those intending to kill in quantity and
- willing to kill indiscriminately,
- public transit offers an ideal target
- While air transport security has been given great
attention, urban transport systems carry more
people and depend on open, accessible design to
function well
3Public Transit Terrorist Incidents
- Over 900 incidents since 1920
- Two-thirds intended to kill people rather than
just to disrupt service - More than one-third of attacks actually produced
fatalities - Of fatal incidents, three-quarters produced
multiple deaths, and one quarter produced ten or
more deaths
4Since 1990 more than 40 of all terrorist attacks
in the entire world have been on transportation
systems
5Stages in Security Planning
- Stage 1 Planning, Design, Building
- Stage 2 Planning for Incident Response
- Stage 3 Immediate Response to Incidents
- Stage 4 Long-Term Recovery and Adoption of
New Rules Procedures
6Components of the Project
- Review of the literature on transit terrorist
incidents - Survey of 113 U.S. transit agencies
- Case studies of U.S. transit systems New York,
Washington, D.C. - International case studies London, Madrid,
Paris, Tokyo
7A Great Deal to Learn From International
Experience
- London after IRA attacks
- Japan after sarin gas attacks
- Paris after GIA bombings
- Madrid after Al-Queda attack
8Scope of Research
- Comparing strategies of transit agencies in U.S.
and around the world - Contrasting transit security processes of
different transit authorities and ministries - Evaluating transit station design for security
- Assessing lessons learned from actual attacks in
different contexts for future response
prevention
9Survey of Domestic Transit Operators
- The survey looked at the perceptions and
experiences after the 9-11 attacks, in four
distinct areas of transit security planning - Policing
- Security hardware and technology
- Public education/user outreach
- Environmental design strategies
- 113 transit agencies responded (44 of agencies
contacted) - 108 cities in 40 different states
-
10Most Recent Incidents Experienced By Systems
11Vulnerability of System Modes to Attack
12Vulnerability of System Components
13Threat and Vulnerability Assessments
- Of 113 agencies, 85 have conducted some level of
threat and vulnerability assessment of key system
infrastructure - Almost half (46) of systems have conducted
comprehensive security assessments - Among agencies who have not conducted assessments
(n11), reasons given for not doing so included
lack of resources, agency in the process of
planning assessment, and one respondent claimed
that his agency was not a high value target
14Frequency of Assessments
- A third of agencies reported doing assessments at
least once a year - Other agencies did not have regular policy
conduct assessments as deemed necessary - 70 have conducted an assessment in the last 3
years
15Importance of Strategies in Security Planning
16Perceived Effectiveness of Strategies
17CPTED Strategies and Transit Security
- More than two-thirds (69) of respondents
familiar with crime prevention through
environmental design (CPTED) - 58 of the transit systems employ CPTED
strategies - Familiarity and use of CPTED was higher among
systems with rail
18Components where CPTED Strategies are used
19Components of Rail Systems where CPTED strategies
are used
20General Survey Conclusions
- Significant attacks are so far rare in the US
although transit agencies have received at times
credible threats - Attention to transit security increased
significantly after 9-11 CPTED and information
and outreach was given much more attention after
9-11 - Survey findings reflect fundamental dilemmas of
transit security planning systems inherently
open and vulnerable, but security has increased
dramatically in the past decade
21International Case Studies Research Questions
- How are transportation systems in different
cities of the world handling transit security? - What mix of strategies do they use?
- Do they perceive crime prevention through
environmental design as a valid security
strategy? - What lessons can U.S. transit systems learn from
the international experience?
22International Fieldwork
- Interviews with transit managers, transit
officials responsible for security, architects,
and engineers designing the operation of transit
systems in 4 cities. - Visits to stations of case study systems and
their control and command centers - Visits to model stations with state of the art
measures of security (Alto del Arenal in Madrid,
METEORs Gare de Lyon, and St. Lazare on the EOLE
line in Paris).
23Paris
- Previous attacks more limited in scope.
- Recognition that threat is different today.
- Security has become more of a goal than a
reality. The primary goal is to create a feeling
of security rather than reduce the risk to zero,
which is practically impossible.
24Paris A Hierarchical System of Security- A Web
of Plans
- Government plans for civil security under the
authority of Prefet Plan Rouge - In each region, local communities of security
composed of police, local government officials,
and transit operators - After Algerian attacks of 1995, Vigipirate Plan
for periods of high alert in Paris - Security Audits and prioritization of security
needs by French Ministry of Transport - Security plans for specific types of threats
(chemical, biological, radioactive - Security measures by transit operators (SNCF and
RATP)
25ParisKey Security Emphasis
- Comprehensiveness, coordination, communication,
adoption of a systemic approach to security,
integration of different strategies - Coordination transcends national borders.
Pan-European cooperation through the
International Union of Transportation (UITP)
26Line 14 - MeteorIntegration of Security
Strategies
- Security Technology Computerized trains under a
command center which can communicate with each
train. Glass doors on platforms, adjustable locks
on trains, remote control CCTV cameras - Policing Uniformed and civilian-clothed staff
and police on platforms and trains. - Information Campaigns
27Integration of Security Strategies
- Design Wide, straight passageways, corridors,
and platforms, limited exits, use of natural and
artificial lighting, shatter proof fiberglass,
transparent and resistant materials, transparent
trashcans
28Tokyo
- Sarin attack came as a shock to the safe
society of Japan it was perceived as an
isolated incident, an indiscriminate large-scale
murder not a terrorist incident - 9-11 attacks forced the Japanese to perceive
terrorism as a very serious threat to their
transit systems
29TokyoResponsibility on Transit Operators
- Minimal role of the national government in
issuing security regulations or implementing
transit security improvements - National government issues at times security
suggestions and guidance memos - Broad security directives and strategies are
decided by the Board of Directors of transit
companies smaller security issues are decided
upon by the Safety Affairs Division of each
company
30TokyoTransit Security Strategies
- Policing and patrolling by staff, private
security guards, municipal police
31TokyoTransit Security Strategies
- User outreach through posters, stickers and
public announcements
32TokyoTransit Security Strategies
- Security technologies with security cameras and
CCTV technology. Since sarin attack 2,200
security cameras have been installed at strategic
points (platforms, ticket gates, restrooms) - Alarm and security buttons
33TokyoTransit Security Strategies
- Design strategies only considered after 9-11
- Efforts to minimize dead space
- Make inaccessible certain station areas
- Locate restrooms away from secluded spaces make
walls out of translucent materials - Remove trashcans and cigarette receptacles
- New train windows open more easily
- Fireproof train materials
34London
- Very comprehensive system of security directives
and standards due to the series of terrorist
attacks by IRA in last 30 years - The Al-Queda attacks were perceived as a
different brand of terrorism and have injected a
new sense of urgency
35LondonA Layered Network of Security
- National Level Two national committees under the
Department of Transport Rail Safety and
Standards Board (sets safety standards) and
TRANSEC (regulates airports, ports, and railway
stations) - Regional Level Transport for London (TfL)
facilitates emergency planning and response of
transportation agencies in the greater London
area - Industry-wide
- British Transport Police (BTP) for all railway
systems in Great Britain - Network Rail (nonprofit) owns and controls
railway infrastructure deals with the security
of stations and infrastructure - Transit Operators operate their own Security
Division, which oversees implementation of
security standards and suggests enhancements
36LondonKey Security Emphasis
- Interagency coordination Regular meetings of
representatives from each agency - Coordination with European agencies to share best
practices - Not much collaboration with American transport
operators
37LondonTransit Security Strategies
- Mix of security technology, customer outreach,
policing, and design strategies - I dont think one of these strategies sits on
its own. Youve got to do each one. And youve
got to have an element of each one in terms of
combating terrorism - London Underground official
38LondonTransit Security Strategies
- Security technology 6,000 CCTV cameras, some
connected to alarms, and some with recording
capabilities some skepticism about their
effectiveness - Policing and staff vigilance 630 officers in
London Underground in 2004 - Information and outreach has resulted in
significant vigilance by the public reports of
10,000 unattended items every month!
39LondonTransit Security Strategies
- Design strategies emerged in the last decade
- Elimination of concealment spaces (vending
machines and phone booths with sloping tops) - Securing in-between spaces (walkways, escalators,
elevators, storage and power supply rooms) - Many decentralized control rooms for the system.
- Redesigned trash receptacles (see-through plastic)
40Madrid
- Long experience with terrorism because of ETA
attacks - New understanding of terrorism after 3-11-04
attack as indiscriminate, international,
unexpected
41MadridTriple Layer of Security National
Municipal Transit Operator
- National Level Ministry of Defense provides
information about threats Ministry of Interior
instigates security regulations and standards
Civil Guard protects Metro Madrid. - Local Level Municipal police protects Metro
Madrid Consorcio Regional de Tranportes de
Madrid (CRTM) coordinates transportation
agencies. - Transit Operators Operate security departments,
contract private security officers - Association holding bi-monthly meetings of
representatives of local and regional agencies
dealing with security.
42MadridTransit Security Strategies
- Security Technology
- Retrofit of Metro Madrid and RENFE stations with
anti-intrusion and detection systems, and video
and security cameras. - Scanning system of passengers of high-speed (AVE)
trains. - Command and control center
43MadridTransit Security Strategies
- Public Outreach Only training of employees
absence of warning posters and advice for the
public - Policing Combination of private and municipal
police forces, and national forces for Metro
Madrid
44MadridTransit Security Strategies
- Design Strategies Design guidelines for new
stations - Limited entrance points
- Clearly visible, open corridors, platforms,
waiting areas - Avoidance of underground passages and
footbridges, and winding corridors
45MadridDesign Strategies (cont)
- Elimination of dark zones
- Panoramic elevators
- No space on top or underneath vending machines
- Transparent materials in station design
- Good lighting
46Ten Lessons Learned
- Public transit systems are inherently vulnerable
to terrorist attacks they cannot be closed and
secured like other parts of the transportation
system. - The threat of transit terrorism is probably not
universal most attacks in the western world have
been on largest systems in the largest cities. - Transit managers are struggling to balance the
costs and benefits of increased security against
the costs and benefits of attracting passengers. - Close coordination among government, security and
transit sectors is critical to effective
planning.
47Ten Lessons Learned
- Despite significant progress in increasing
coordination, much work remains (particularly in
the U.S.). - Standardization of emergency training, security
audits, and guidelines, and disaster preparedness
procedures is important. - Passenger education is a challenge Informed
passengers can increase safety, fearful
passengers may stop using transit.
48Ten Lessons Learned
- Anti-terrorism efforts have had as a positive
side-effect the reduction of person and property
crime in transit systems. - The role of crime prevention through
environmental design is waxing. - Transit agencies have been more likely to adopt
comprehensive, multi-pronged approaches to
security after 9-11.
49You can have the cleanest trains in the world,
you can have the most luminous trains in the
world, and you can have the most comfortable
trains in the world, and you can have the most
punctual trains in the world. But when you go in
a train and do not feel safe you are not going to
use that train. Manuel Rodriguez Simons,
Director of Security and Civil Protection, RENFE,
Madrid
50Questions Comments