MTI Releases New Publication at DC Transportation Security Summit

March 14, 2007 Washington, DC -- The National Transportation Security Center (NTSC) at the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) used its Fourth National Transportation Security Summit on March 14th to announce the publication of Selective Screening of Rail Passengers by MTI Research Associates Brian Michael Jenkins and Bruce R. Butterworth.

MTI Trustee Mort Downey, MTI Founder Norman Mineta, MTI Executive Director Rod Diridon, Sr., MTI National Transportation Security Center Director Brian Michael Jenkins and MTI Research Associate Bruce Butterworth

Timed to coincide with the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) legislative conference, Selective Screening of Rail Passengers reviews security in mass transit and advocates preparations for screening that are selective and voluntary to reduce the risk of attack. Covered in the report are the current terrorist threat, objectives and methods of screening, characteristics of a good screening program, plus conclusions and recommendations.

The timing of this study is particularly relevant as trials are underway in Madrid and London for suspects in the 2004 and 2005 respective bombings in those cities. The bomber responsible for last year’s deadly train blast in Mumbai has been found, and the French have just put Paris on high alert, including the Metro system. While the U.S. hasn’t suffered an attack on its transportation systems since 9/11/01, other countries haven’t been as fortunate, and U.S. system operators agree it is just a matter of when, not if, there will be another attack here.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff

Jenkins and Butterworth led off the summit with a presentation of their methodology and findings. They were followed by a panel moderated by APTA’s Security Director Greg Hull and comprised of Col. Douglas DeLeaver, Maryland Transit Administration; Ernest R. Frazier, New Castle County (DE); Polly Hanson, Washington Area Transportation Authority; and Robert Jamison, Transportation Security Administration (TSA). 

Jamison, TSA’s deputy administrator, complimented Jenkins and Butterworth, differing from their assessments only with a more optimistic estimate of when screening technology would be ready for deployment.

The report can be found on the Mineta Transportation Institute website at

http://transweb.sjsu.edu/mtiportal/research/publications/summary/0607.html

###