The Inherent Challenges of Securing Transportation Infrastructure: Examination of the National Capital Region

Surface transportation systems are a critical element of virtually every aspect of life in the United States. They support national defense, move people and goods, employ millions of people, generate revenue and consume resources and services generated by other sectors of the economy. The terrorist attacks of September 11th had a significant impact on the United States, not only in terms of loss of life and property, negative economic impacts, but also with the unsettling realization that an inherently free society renders critical infrastructure in the United States susceptible to future attacks. This paper examines the inherent challenges that transportation service providers and public safety agencies face in securing transportation infrastructure in the National Capital Region (NCR). In addition, this paper examines various planning, development, and operational activities that have been executed in the NCR to foster more secure transportation systems. This paper concentrates on highway networks, public transportation systems (including rail and buses), railways, and airport ground access networks. Transportation infrastructure security is approached in this paper from the perspective that ensuring transportation infrastructures is not merely a process ensuring that an event such as a malevolent attack does not occur. Rather, the process also entails developing and implementing strategies and measures that specifically focus on responding to and recovering from the loss of an asset.