The London Aftermath: Europe and the US Need to Rethink Protection for Mass Transit

By Victor Comras

The London terrorist attacks should cause the EU to seriously reconsider its recently adopted critical infrastructure protection strategy. As I reported in my June 29th Blog, The EU Commission only a few weeks ago elected to adopt a low key approach to such issues. They decided to leave most infrastructure protection planning to national authorities and to focus their own attention and support efforts only on critical infrastructure having cross border dimensions. This leaves to local authorities the burden of planning and paying for local public transportation security. And experience has shown, so far, that protection funds for mass transit fall well short of what's required to address public transit's immense security vulnerabilities. The issue of protecting local transportation was raised at the June 15-17, 2005 G-8 meeting of Home Affairs and Justice Ministers at Sheffield, but the group�s interest quickly strayed back to protecting international air and maritime transport. According to UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke, the group agreed �to work together about underground systems from our different countries to see what can be learned from the different issues that arise.� But nobody was prepared at that meeting to put forth any useful guidance and proposals. It is surprising that, following the March 11th 2004 Madrid train bombing local transportation systems have not been given the same priority as that devoted to international air and maritime travel.

Here at home, the US Department of Homeland Security also recognizes that it is behind the curve in coming to grips with this difficult problem. Since 9/11, the aviation industry has received $18.1 billion for security from the federal Department of Homeland Security, according to the Washington-based American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This compares to just $250 million devoted to local mass transit. Local funding has accounted for most of the $2 billion in security and other upgrades given to local transportation systems since 9/11. But APTA claims that at least $6 Billion is really needed. Special efforts are now underway in Washington DC, New York and other metropolitan centers to increase protection and raise public security awareness. But, according to a report published in Newsday, there is still so much left undone. The NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for example, still has not finalized its own security upgrade spending plans. It has been two years since Governor Pataki vowed to spend nearly $600 million to strengthen the subway and commuter rails, the Newsday article states. Yet, only $30 million has been spent so far. Quoting further the Newsday Article: "The booths are the only real thing out there from a security point of view," the transit manager said. "There isn't much else in the subway." "Where are the chemical detectors?" he asked. "There are still so many unsecured rooms with important communications equipment, radios and telephones used by emergency personnel. We're so vulnerable."

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