Transit Security Planning Project
The Transit Security Planning Project is a joint project between NARC and the Federal Transit Administration.
Issue:
Security is an integral component in transit and the regional transportation planning process. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEALU), which passed in August 2005 and governs federal surface transportation funding and programs, identifi es security as a stand alone planning factor, signaling increased importance on the issue. According to the law, state departments of transportation, councils of government (COGs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are required to consider security of its system and users when planning for transit through the metropolitan and state-wide transportation planning process.
Needs Assessment:
Some regions have successfully incorporated security into their transportation planning process, while many others have not. Most small and mid-sized COGs and MPOs lack clarity about how best to integrate security into their current transportation planning processes. NARC believes targeted education and outreach will unite transit security communications and the public with regional transportation planning. Specifically, education and outreach measures are needed to build a greater understanding of the importance of security among COGs and MPOs. As such, NARC has prepared three cases studies and held a webinar to better inform COGs, MPOs and local governments.
Case Studies:
While many larger area MPOs have demonstrated success in integrating the new security factor into their transportation plans, less is known about small and mid-sized MPOs and their success and challenges. In response, NARC has worked with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to develop these case studies focusing on small and mid-sized MPOs and their work in transit security planning.
The KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission (KYOVA) is a non-profit association of local governments in southwestern West Virginia and southeastern Ohio whose goal is to promote cooperation among its member organizations and to maximize their ability to solve problems that cannot be solved by any jurisdiction individually. KYOVA serves a population of slightly over 200,000, and under federal law, KYOVA is the MPO responsible for ensuring the coordinated use of federal transportation funds for the bi-state region, which benefits from a multimodal transportation system linking the two states. Click HERE to access the case study.
The St. Joseph Area Transportation Study Organization (SJATSO) is the MPO in the St. Joseph, Missouri Urbanized Area with the mission of developing a transportation system that minimizes fuel consumption and pollution across their region. SJATSO develops transportation plans and programs in conjunction with the states of Missouri and Kansas, across three counties and five cities. This mainly rural, agricultural region has a population of approximately 108,000, is within close proximity to several military installations and has become known for its high-tech animal health industry. Click HERE to access the case study.
The Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization (YMPO) represents the Yuma, Arizona, region and includes the cities of Yuma, San Luis and Somerton, the town of Wellton, Yuma County and the Cocopah Indian tribe. The mainly rural region has a population of 203,779, shares an international border with Mexico and is home to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, which provides air combat training to both U.S. and NATO forces. As YMPO’s boundaries extend into California, it is considered a bi-state MPO within the Arizona Department of Transportation Yuma District. Click HERE to access the case study.
These regions have been selected to inform and educate the transportation and security planning community on the progress smaller MPOs have made, as well as the outstanding needs they have in transportation security planning.
Transit Security Webinar:
A webinar was held on December 18, 2008 that provided an overview of the three case studies noted and was moderated by Erika Young, Transportation Director of NARC, with an introduction by Kimberly Goins of the FTA. Presentations by representatives from KYOVA, SJATSO and YMPO were also made. Click HERE to access a copy of the presentation from the webinar.
Additional information about this project can be found by clicking HERE.