What's New in Security and Emergencies

The Mineta Transportation Institute has released a report that describes the modeling, calibration, and validation of a traffic-flow simulation of the San Jose, California downtown network to help assess strategies that could be used in various evacuation scenarios and first responder routings during a no-notice disaster.

On May 9, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing to examine the efforts made by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to procure, deploy, and store airport security-related equipment. A briefing memo and witness testimonies are available online.

TRB standing committees have issued  calls for papers for the TRB 92nd Annual Meeting, January 13-17, 2013, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential...

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office has released a report that explores the potential for global disruptions to affect U.S. energy prices; the likelihood of disruptions and the ability of suppliers to adjust to them; the ability of energy consumers to adjust to disruptions; and policy options to improve energy security in transportation.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform have released a report that examines the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) management and its procurement, deployment, and storage of airport security screening technologies.

TRB’s Technical Activities Division has an opening for a Marine and Freight Transportation Senior Program Officer to work in the areas of research, engineering, water transportation, freight, critical infrastructure protection, and security. The Senior Program Officer independently manages multiple/complex programs/projects. Manages standing committees and task forces within the TRB M...

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that examines the status of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) efforts to install optimal checked baggage screening systems in collaboration with airports. The report also explores the potential impact of federal cost share changes on the integration of baggage screening equipment into baggage handling systems and...

A slideshow summary of the Transportation Research Board's pre- and post-September 11, 2001, transportation security activities is updated monthly.

Since September 11, 2001, 125 security-, emergency management-, and infrastructure protection-related planning and implementation projects have been initiated through the Transportation Research Board (TRB). Ninety-two of these projects have been completed; 15 projects are in progress; and 18 projects have contracts pending or are currently in development. This report, updated monthly, provides...

TRB is sponsoring the 2012 Transportation Hazards and Security Summit and Peer Exchange on August 20-24, 2012, in Irvine, California. The event provides a forum for interaction across a broad spectrum of interest and an opportunity to explore research in transportation security and infrastructure protection. A major focus of the meeting will be on bridging the gaps and understanding the dynamic...

Roundabouts have seen unprecedented growth across the United States, from just a handful a decade ago to more than 2,000 and counting. National guidance had to keep pace with the needs of states and communities planning and implementing roundabouts, and NCHRP took a lead role.

The Mineta Transportation Institute has released a report that examines 13 terrorist plots against public surface transportation that were uncovered and foiled by authorities between 1997 and 2010, and two failed attempts to carry out attacks.

TRB is sponsoring the 2012 Freight Systems Group Midyear Meeting on June 21, 2012, in Washington, D.C. As a forum for the discussion of freight systems topics, the meeting will include several plenary sessions that will explore supply chain and industry trends, freight infrastructure funding, the adoption of alternative fuel sources for trucks, and safety and security considerations related to ...

In regions across the nation, bridge engineers know that the next major seismic event is coming—maybe tomorrow, maybe centuries from now. DOTs have the critical charge of designing for earthquakes and protecting the lives of travelers.

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released a report that integrates research on climate science, disaster risk management, and adaptation to help inform policy discussions on how to reduce and manage the risks of extreme climate events and disasters.  The 594-page full report, 20-page summary for policy makers, video, slide deck, and 2-page fact sheet are av...

On March 26, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a joint hearing to examine the successes and challenges associated with security initiatives administered by the Transportation Security Administration. A briefing memo and witness testimonies are available online.

TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 61: Elimination or Reduction of Baggage Recheck for Arriving International Passengers identifies potential alternative procedures that might be implemented to help reduce or eliminate the need for the recheck of baggage for arriving international passengers at U.S. airports. The report describes the potential benefits and costs to airport...

The Mineta Transportation Institute has released a report that examines 16 case studies of attacks planned or carried out against bus targets that have taken place in Israel since 1970 and during the Second Intifada, which occurred between September 2000 and the end of 2006.

TRB is sponsoring the 2012 International Conference on Winter Maintenance and Surface Transportation Weather on April 30-May 3, 2012, in Coralville, Iowa. The meeting is designed to help improve snow removal and ice control operations and the application of weather information in transportation agencies by providing a forum for the exchange of information on the state of the art and state of th...

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that examines the extent to which the U.S. Coast Guard has implemented Interagency Operations Centers.

The Florida Department of Transportation has released a report that evaluates dual-cable traffic signal support systems and their ability to perform in hurricane wind loads.

On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security held a hearing to examine the integrity of the supply chain, the government agencies whose job it is to screen and inspect cargo to secure our ports, and how the National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security outlines the nation’s plan to guard agains...

The Washington State Department of Transportation has released a report that develops a vulnerability assessment of the risks that climate change poses to the surface transportation infrastructure system in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska region.

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2234 consists of 14 papers that explore improving resilience of critical infrastructure systems, material convergence and its determinants, defending transportation networks against attack, location of medical facilities, and site considerations for points of dispersing after biological terrorist attack. Thi...

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that focuses on the Department of Defense’s plans and requirements for operations in the Arctic.

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has released a brochure that commemorates the first 50 years of the program and highlights some of the milestones in research that continue to have an impact on how state highway agencies are building, managing, maintaining, and evolving the nation’s highway system. NCHRP will celebrate its 50th anniversary on June 19, 2012. ...

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that explores the U.S. Coast Guard’s risk assessment approach, the extent to which this approach meets the Department of Homeland Security’s criteria, and the extent to which this approach informs the U.S. Coast Guard’s maritime security risk decisions and measures the impact of its security programs.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a report that documents the effects of the installation of the 65-foot High-Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) on the predelivery inspection test of the FAA's Striker Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting research vehicle. The report also evaluates the performance and firefighting effectiveness of the 65-foot HRET in and around new large aircra...

Since September 11, 2001, 125 security-, emergency management-, and infrastructure protection-related planning and implementation projects have been initiated through the Transportation Research Board (TRB). Ninety-two of these projects have been completed; 15 projects are in progress; and 18 projects have contracts pending or are currently in development. This report, updated monthly, provides...

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has released a report that explores transportation stakeholders’ satisfaction of with the quality of U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s transportation security information products and with the mechanisms used to disseminate them. The report also examines the extent to which TSA’s roles and responsibilities for communicating security-related ...