Title: Transportation Systems
Course: 2016FA-MCO-115-401 > Section: Module 9: Transportation Systems

Click here for a downloadable version of this document: Transportation Systems

Transportation Systems

The United States transportation systems make it possible for people and goods to be moved around the country and overseas. Because this sector services the critical infrastructure sectors of Defense, Critical Manufacturing, and Emergency Services, it is critical to the US. This sector’s vision is for “a secure and resilient transportation system, enabling legitimate travelers and goods to move without significant disruption of commerce, undue fear of harm, or loss of civil liberties” [1, p. 25].

Challenges and Threats

Aging Infrastructure

The United States is currently challenged by a large number of roads, bridges, locks, and other infrastructure items that are aging and in need of maintenance, repair, and in some cases replacement. Congestion of traffic in our larger cities needs to be addressed. If we do not invest in this infrastructure there will be negative consequences; possibly even a loss of jobs.

The transportation system sector has been highlighted by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) annual report card as a form of American infrastructure in need of improvement. The assets of the sector are aging and specific things that need to be addressed to keep transportation safe, reliable, and expanding to fit America’s needs are:

- Address congested highways and roadways
- Invest in the maintenance and improvement that aging infrastructure requires
- Research transit and the possibilities expanding transit could bring

It has been suggested that a lack of investment in time, money, and resources into the transportation sector could eventually lead to negative impact on the country’s economy including the loss of some jobs.

Terrorism

In 1937 the League of Nations defined terrorism as “all criminal acts directed against a state and intended or calculated to create a state of terror in the minds of particular persons or a group of persons or the general public” [2, p. 328]. The Department of State defined it as, “…premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience” [2, p. 328].

The September 11, 2001 attacks on America made everyone keenly aware of the possibilities of terrorist attacks using hijacked airliners. Also in 2001 anthrax attacks occurred over several weeks in September; these attacks used the United States Postal system as the carrier and mailings were sent to United States Senators as well as news media offices [3]. Terrorism using transportation subsectors was not new in 2001, it has been a part of the history of the United States for years.  On April 19, 1995 the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed with a truck bomb [4].  Previously on February 26, 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed with a truck bomb that was intended to make the towers fall [4]. Even before this the United States has a history of bombings, hijackings, and other terrorist acts. These memorable examples of terrorism from the history of the United States all took advantage of some subsector of transportation systems [4].

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) works to protect the American people from terrorist threats. This is a main reason the DHS was created. DHS works in cooperation with other federal, state, local, and other groups to protect through education, prevention, and by placing particular attention on evolving and emerging threats. DHS works to keep pace with the advances in technology and the evolution of terrorist threats while they work to thwart the recruitment activities of terrorists.

The specific methods used to prevent terrorism in passenger and cargo transportation systems as well as at borders and ports of entry use new technologies to:

- “Detect explosives and other weapons
- Help protecting critical infrastructure and cyber networks from attack
- Build information-sharing partnerships” [5]

The DHS “If You See Something, Say Something” awareness campaign is designed to make the public more aware of possible terrorism-related suspicious activity and the need to report it. Click here to watch a 30 second Public Service Announcement from this campaign.

Cyberterrorism / Cybersecurity

As detailed in the methods used by the DHS to keep Americans safe, keeping our electronic, information technology, and data secure it of the utmost importance to almost every sector of critical infrastructure. The transportation systems sector is, like almost every other piece of infrastructure, controlled by or at least affected by a network or networked device. Service disruption, interference with a mode of transportation’s on-board devices, and the security of transportation related data are all at risk of cyber-attack.

Authorities, Regulation, and Protection

The Sector Specific Agencies (SSAs) that help to regulate and protect the transportation systems sector are the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [6] [7].

Other agencies that work closely with the SSAs are the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) who is the leader over security of aviation and surface transportation modes, and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) who protects the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests in ports, waterways (inland), on our coasts, on the high seas, or in any maritime environment. The TSA collaborates with the Department of Transportation (DOT). The USCG keeps the maritime domain secure and coordinates with the Department of Defense in cases of incident. (These SSAs report to the DHS.) [1]

The sector partner that might come to mind first when thinking of the transportation sector is the DOT; it is home to the some related groups that are familiar to many.

Groups that Belong to the DOT and Highlights of Their Functions

- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – Performs research, regulates, and promotes safety of the nation’s aviation system.
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) – “Ensures that America’s roads and highways continue to be the safest and most technologically up-to-date” [1, p. 93].
- Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration (FMCSA) – Regulates the transport of hazardous materials, and works to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities involving buses and large trucks.
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) – works to keep our railroads safe; the FRA creates and enforces railroad regulations and policy and conducts research and development activities designed to improve the safety of railroads.

Plus other groups, like those that strive to improve the safety of our transit systems, pipelines, highways, and marine transportation systems (FTA, PHMSA, NHTSA, and MARAD) [1].

Sectors that Interact with Transportation Systems

The Energy Sector plays a large role in Transportation Systems, since many modes of transportation rely on fuel that is provided from energy. The Defense Sector relies on the transportation systems sector. Both troop and material movement as well as supply replenishment are dependent on the Transportation Systems Sector. The Agriculture and Food Sector also depend on transportation to move the needed foods around the country as well as to transport some for export. Similarly, the Critical Manufacturing Sector requires the use of the Transportation Systems Sector to move manufactured goods around the country. The Emergency Services Sector could not provide life-saving functions if it did not have the Transportation Sector to enable them to reach the scene of an emergency [1].

Transportation Systems Included in this Critical Infrastructure Sector

- Aviation – Aircraft, air traffic control systems, commercial airports, public airfields, and some heliports and seaplane bases are included.
- Freight Rail – Includes 7 major carriers and hundreds of smaller railroads, with an estimated 20,000 locomotives. The Department of Defense designated 30,000 miles of track and structure as critical to the mobilization and resupply of military forces.
- Highway and Motor Carriers – Includes highways, bridges, tunnels, and over 4 million miles of roadways. These carry motorcycles, automobiles, recreational vehicles, school buses, and trucks.
- Maritime – Includes watercraft and vessels, waterways, 361 ports, and 95,000 miles of coastline.
- Mass Transit and Passenger Rail – Includes trains and buses as well as the facilities (stations and the like) that go with them. Also includes light rail, subway, commuter rail, and cable cars.
- Pipeline Systems – Includes networks of hundreds of thousands of miles of pipeline that carry chemicals, natural gas, and hazardous liquids. (Also includes processing and storage facilities.)
- Postal and Shipping – Includes postal (USPS) and shipping activity that is different than cargo activity [1] [6].