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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for transit safety
21 results foundAuthor: Loukatiou-Sideris, Anastasia Title: How to Ease Women's Fear of Transportation Environments: Case Studies and Best Practices Summary: The relationship between women's fear and the built environment has been the subject of research with clear findings that women feel unsafe in many public spaces. These often include transportation environments. Desolate bus stops and train cars, dimly lit park-and-ride lots and parking structures, but also overcrowded transit vehicles represent stressful setting for many women, who often feel compelled to change their transportation modes and travel patterns in order to avoid them. Past research has shown that transit passengers' fears and concerns about safety influence their travel decisions. But while the relationship between women's fear of crime and public space has been the focus on considerable research, transit environments have received less attention. This study seeks to address this gap by, 1) identifying the perspectives and needs of women regarding safety from crime in transit environments through a comprehensive literature review and in depth interviews with representatives of 16 national women's interest groups; 2) assessing if these needs are met by transit agencies, through a survey of 131 U.S. transit operators; 3) discussing the model programs and best practices from the U.S. and overseas that address women's concerns about safe travel. The authors found women transit passengers have some distinct travel needs, but these needs are not well addressed in the U.S., where only a handful of transit operators have specific programs in place targeting the safety needs of women riders. In contrast, some other countries have adopted specific measures and policies in response to women's transit safety needs. The authors also found a mismatch between the expressed needs of women passengers adn the types and locations of common safety/security strategies adopted by transit agencies. Based on feedback from the interviews and case studies, the authors offer a series of policy recommendations. Details: San Jose, CA: Mineta Transportation Institute. College of Business, San Jose State University, 2009 Source: Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117387 Keywords: Female VictimsTransit Safety |
Author: Great Britain. Rail Safety and Standards Board Title: Managing Alcohol Risks to Personal Security on the Railway: A Good Practice Guide Summary: This good practice guide focuses on techniques that the rail industry could deploy to manage the risk represented by the contribution of alcohol to passenger and staff safety and personal. Details: London: RSSB, 2010. 70p. Source: Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 118375 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (U.K.)Passenger SafetyTransit CrimeTransit Safety |
Author: Stafford Pettersson Neath Title: Managing the Risks to Safety and Personal Security from Alcohol: Supporting Documentation Summary: This aim of this research is to understand how alcohol contributes to safety and security risks, and to develop tactical and strategic solutions that the U.K. railway, working with other key stakeholders, can implement to address these risks and change attitudes and perceptions. These two reports consist of a literature review on the topic as well as a qualitative report presenting the findings of interviews with frontline staff, local managers and representations of organizations with a strategic or national view of the issues, and the focus groups with members of the public. Details: London: Rail Standards and Safety Board, 2009. 73p.; 68p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119204 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, DisorderRailway CrimeTransit CrimeTransit Safety |
Author: Kennedy, D.M. Title: Personal Security in Public Transport Travel in New Zealand: Problems, Issues & Sollutions Summary: research project explores concerns about personal security by users of public transport. The findings from an international literature review are used, and the concerns of public transport users in three New Zealand cities (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) that have significant public transport patronage streams are explored. Personal security concerns were found to discourage existing patrons from using public transport, and more so after dark. A number of security measures preferred by patrons are outlined. However, the project also found that only a small proportion of patrons actually noticed the presence of security measures that had been installed. Details: Wellington, NZ: Land Transport New Zealand, 2008. 112p.; 76p. Source: Internet Resource; Land Transport New Zealand Research Report 344 Year: 2008 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 119343 Keywords: Transit CrimeTransit SafetyTransportation |
Author: San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Title: 2006 Mission Valley Corridor Crime STudy Summary: The 2006 Mission Valley Corridor Crime Study (Califonia) assesses the public safety impacts of the recent Green Line Trolley extension in July 2005. The study has three parts: a survey of Mission Valley Corridor residents and businesses; a survey of Green Line Trolley passengers; and an analysis of crime data in the eastern portion of the corridor. The results of the study will be used to estimate the public safety impacts of the upcoming trolley extension in the Mid-Coast Corridor. Details: San Diego: San Diego Association of Governments, 2007. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2018 at: http://sandiegohealth.org/sandag/publicationid_1347_7837.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://sandiegohealth.org/sandag/publicationid_1347_7837.pdf Shelf Number: 119380 Keywords: Light Rail SystemsTransit Crime (California)Transit Safety |
Author: Jenkins, Brian Michael Title: Terrorist Attacks on Public Bus Transportation: A Preliminary Empirical Analysis Summary: "This report provides data on terrorist attacks against public bus transportation targets and serious crimes committed against such targets throughout the world. The data are drawn from the MTI database of attacks on public surface transportation, which is expanded and updated as information becomes available. This analysis is based on the database as of December 17, 2009. Data include the frequency and lethality with which buses, bus stations, and bus stops are attacked; the relationship between fatalities and attacks against bus targets and the relationship between injuries and attacks against those targets; how often, relative to other surface transportation targets, buses are attacked, first with all weapons and then with only explosive and incendiary devices; the relative lethality of attacks; and the distribution of attacks. It then presents some preliminary observations drawn from those data that can help stakeholders—governments, transit managers, and employees—to focus on the ways the most frequent and/or most lethal attacks are carried out as they consider measures to prevent or mitigate attacks that may be considered likely to happen in the United States." Details: San Jose, CA: Mineta Transportation Institute, San Jose State University, 2010. 110p. Source: Internet Resource; MTI Report SP 09-01 Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119381 Keywords: Public TransportationTerrorismTerrorist AttacksTransit CrimeTransit Safety |
Author: Nakanishi, Yuko, Consultant Title: Transit Security Update: A Synthesis of Transit Practice Summary: This report, an update of the original TCRP Synthesis of Transit Practice 21: Improving Transit Security (1997), addresses terrorism, which was not included in the original study along with ordinary crime. Counterterrorism and anticrime security measures and practices, crime and security incident trends, and other related issues are covered in this report. Major issues and obstacles to security and policing management, as well as further research needs, have been identified and presented. The key elements of this Synthesis study include a survey of 120 transit agencies, with a 38% response rate, case studies, and a literature review along with input from industry experts and National Transit Database (NTD) analysis. Since the publication of the last report in 1997, significant improvements have been made to mitigate ordinary crime, and significant progress has been made to secure transit systems from terrorism. After September 11, 2001 (9/11), securing public transportation systems against the terrorist threat became an important and complex issue for U.S. transit operators and continues to be a prime concern of both domestic and international transit operators. For many decades, transit systems outside of the United States have been a target of terrorist activity, which has resulted in significant losses of life, injuries, infrastructure damage, disruptions to transit service, and economic losses to the affected regions. Synthesis survey results revealed that the terrorist threats of primary concern to multimodal, rail-only, and ferry systems were explosives, chemical and biological threats, hijackings and shootings, and sabotage. The terrorist threats of primary concern to bus agencies were hijackings, shootings, explosives, and sabotage. Transit agencies are well aware of many other possible terrorist threats, such as radiological attacks, cyber crime, and transit vehicles used as weapons, but these threats are considered to be of secondary importance. Details: Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board, 2009. 142p. Source: Internet Resource; TCRP Synthesis 80 Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119465 Keywords: Public TransportationTerrorismTransit CrimeTransit SafetyTransit Security |
Author: Goldgof, Smitry B. Title: Evaluation of Smart Video for Transit Event Detection Summary: Transit agencies are increasingly using video cameras to fight crime and terrorism. As the volume of video data increases, the existing digital video surveillance systems provide the infrastructure only to capture, store and distribute video, while leaving the task of threat detection exclusively to human operators. The objective of this research project was to study and develop an evaluation framework for commercial video analytics systems. A state-of-the-art research literature survey was conducted. Identified strengths, weaknesses, future directions of research and state-of-the-art commercial video analytics products were surveyed. Product capabilities were identified by working together with vendors and analyzing the available literature offered by the providers. Use of analytic technology in transit agencies in Florida was analyzed. A technology survey among the largest agencies in the state indicates very low use of video analytics, significant skepticism, and poor general knowledge of the technology and its capabilities. Based on existing general evaluation frameworks, an evaluation framework for video analytics technology was developed, including annotation guidelines, scoring metrics, and implementation of the scoring metrics in the scoring software. Details: Tampa, FL: National Center for Transit Research, Center for Urban Transportation Research, University of South Florida, 2009. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2010 at: http://www.nctr.usf.edu/pdf/77807.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.nctr.usf.edu/pdf/77807.pdf Shelf Number: 119820 Keywords: Crime PreventionTerrorismTransit CrimeTransit SafetyTransit SecurityVideo Surveillance |
Author: Armstrong, Nicholas J. Title: Securing America's Passenger Rails: Analyzing Current Challenges and Future Solutions Summary: Homeland security research and recent transnational terrorist trends lend credibility to the prediction that the next major terrorist attack on the U.S. homeland could be on a mass transit transportation system. Mass transit systems remain an easy target even for the terrorists with modest levels of reconnaissance and surveillance training. London, Madrid, Mumbai, Tokyo and other cities have experienced terrorist attacks on their public transportation systems. For the United States, it is only a matter of time. Mass transit security requires a different approach than airport security. Unlike airports, mass transit systems are open with flexible schedules and multiple points of entry for a much larger number of daily passengers (3.8 billion passenger trips in 20071). Consequently, mass transit security often comes at the expense of operational efficiency. For example, implementing single-entry choke points for 100 percent passenger screening at Grand Central Station during rush hour – as employed by airports – would cause crippling operational delays. Furthermore, mass transit authorities receive a sub-optimal allocation of homeland security funding with respect to risk, leaving vulnerable systems open to an attack. The purpose of this report is to provide an analysis of domestic and international mass transit screening strategies, current and future screening technologies, and governmental challenges to and cost-benefits of enhancing rail security while maintaining as open a system as possible. In addition to discussing these critical topics and providing recommendations in the following section, this report highlights the following themes: • A layered, system-of-systems approach to screening is most effective in a mass transit environment. The principal challenge of quick and efficient screening is in screening carry-on baggage, not passengers. • Current technologies such as biometrics and intelligent video offer the ability to enhance current security systems in the short-term, while the advent of new technologies like Portable Explosive Detection Devices and Passive Millimeter Wave Screening will provide additional layers of security as they become more cost-effective and efficient over time. • Federal grant funding for rail security has increased substantially, particularly in the FY 2008 Transit Security Grant Program; however, allocation of those funds are somewhat less than proportional to the risk among the recipient agencies. • Coordination is both the problem and solution to effective rail security implementation. Local, regional, and state governments are the implementing authorities for rail security projects; it is the responsibility of the federal government to foster coordination through incentives, best practices, and supportive policies. • A centralized clearinghouse for transit security research and best practices does not exist and U.S. government representation within international clearinghouses is weak. Details: Syracuse, NY: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, 2008. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2011 at: http://insct.syr.edu/uploadedFiles/insct/uploadedfiles/PDFs/Workshop%20Project%202008.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://insct.syr.edu/uploadedFiles/insct/uploadedfiles/PDFs/Workshop%20Project%202008.pdf Shelf Number: 119338 Keywords: Mass Transit (U.S.)Passenger SecurityTerrorismTrainsTransit CrimeTransit Safety |
Author: Carnegie, Jon A. Title: Customer Perceptions of Transit Security Summary: The objectives of this research were to: a) examine the extent to which NJ TRANSIT (NJT) security measures provide customers with a sense of overall security/comfort when using the system; b) identify which security measures appear to enhance customer perceptions of safety and what measures could further enhance customer perceptions of security; and c) examine what elements of a transit security public awareness campaign might resonate most with NJT customers. Observations from the focus groups conducted for this study provide insights into how NJT customers perceive transit security and how well they understand the role they play in transit security equation. The focus groups also shed light on which security measures are visible to customers and which measures apparently help to make them feel safe. Finally the focus groups confirm that NJT customers seem to be well aware of expectations regarding the need to be aware of suspicious activity or objects and are familiar with the “See Something, Say Something” campaign used by MTA and the Port Authority However, there was significant confusion regarding how and when to report suspicious activity/objects, especially with regard to what phone number to call. The study concludes that it would be beneficial for NJT to work closely with New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the Port Authority, AMTRAK and other transit providers operating in the metropolitan region to ensure security initiatives being undertaken by each agency, at a minimum, are coordinated with each other. Further NJT should explore the potential for implementing joint public awareness campaigns with shared slogans, imagery and media strategies. Cooperating agencies should consider creating a universal reporting procedure and phone number that can be used across geographic and institutional boundaries to eliminate unnecessary customer confusion regarding when and who to call to report security concerns. Details: New Brunswick, NJ: Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 2010. 67p. Source: FHWA-NJ-2010-08: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 29, 2012 at Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 123872 Keywords: Risk PerceptionsTransit SafetyTransit Security |
Author: London. Assembly. Transport Committee Title: Crime and Disorder on London's Buses Summary: There is less than one crime for every 50,000 passenger journeys on London’s buses, and yet evidence suggests that people feel less safe on them than on any other form of the capital’s public transport. TfL’s own research and responses to our investigation suggest some bus passengers are fearful of crime and intimidated by anti-social behaviour. The reasons for the apparent difference between actual levels of crime and the fear of it are complex. One reason is that recent reductions in crime on buses have not yet had an effect on people’s perceptions of it. Figures provided to the Committee by TfL show bus related crime increased in absolute terms and per passenger journey between 2004 and 2006. There have also been changes to the passenger experience. There has also been an increase of 22.5 per cent in ridership on the bus network since 2002, with nearly two billion passenger journeys last year. The introduction of Oyster cards, whilst increasing the ease and speed of boarding a bus, has reduced contact between staff and passengers; an important factor in passengers’ perceptions of safety. The police and many of those who submitted views to our investigation identified the introduction of free travel on buses for under-16s as a factor in the levels of crime and perceptions of it. Most young people behave responsibly on buses and are more likely to be victims of crime than any other group. However, subsequent policy decisions by TfL and the allocation of police resources suggest the potential effect of the free travel policy on other bus passengers was not adequately considered at the time. We welcome many of the recent initiatives introduced by TfL to increase the uniformed presence on buses and use technology to prevent and solve crime. We have examined these in detail and have made a number of recommendations intended to improve further the way technology and uniformed staff are used to police the bus network. In doing so we have sought to identify lessons that could be learned from best practice elsewhere on the transport network. In particular, we propose: • Increasing the uniformed presence on the bus network using as best practice the example of the DLR where more than six times as much money is spent on security staff than in parts of the capital’s bus network • Exploring the potential for integrating the roles of revenue protection inspectors and Safer Transport Teams • Using the new i-Bus system to ensure that new technology is exploited to explore the potential for live CCTV feeds and better use of PA systems to improve communication between drivers and passengers • Measures to help drivers maintain order and a pleasant environment for bus passengers. Crime and anti-social behaviour will always impinge on the transport network of a large city; it is the responsibility of all relevant public bodies to minimise the extent to which this happens. Our report aims to make a positive contribution to assisting TfL and the police to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour on buses and thereby enhancing the passenger experience. Details: London: London Assembly Transport Committee, 2008. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 10, 2012 at: http://legacy.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/transport/crime-disorder-buses.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://legacy.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/transport/crime-disorder-buses.pdf Shelf Number: 125967 Keywords: BusesPassengersTransit Crime (London)Transit SafetyTransportation CrimeTransportation Security |
Author: Burgess, Melissa Title: Crime on the NSW Rail System Summary: Aim: To provide an overview of the incidence of offences against the person on the NSW rail system. Method: Analysis of data from the NSW Police Forces Computerised Operational Policing System (COPS). Results: Recorded rates of personal crime on the NSW rail system are generally very low. On a typical weekday across NSW the rate of personal crimes on trains is 0.3 incidents per 100,000 passenger journeys. Similarly, the rate of personal crimes on railway stations is 0.04 per 100,000 passenger interchanges. Not all stations carry the same risk. On stations where personal offences had occurred, the risk varied from 0.02 per 100,000 interchanges at North Sydney station to 3.2 per 100,000 interchanges at Waratah station. Non-domestic assault is the most commonly recorded personal offence (49.5% of incidents), followed by steal from person (30.2% of incidents), robbery (12.2% of incidents), other sexual offences (7.5% of incidents) and sexual assault (0.6% of incidents). The overall risk of victimisation on weekdays is highest during the afternoon commuter period (3:00pm to 6:30pm) and lowest during the early morning travel period (2:00am to 6:00am). Risk of victimisation on weekends is highest in evening (6:30pm to 2:00am) and early morning (2:00am to 6:00am) periods. Conclusion: Crime on the rail system is not evenly distributed across time and space. It is hoped that the current findings are a useful source of information for public transport users and for policy makers who are tasked with making decisions about crime control on the NSW rail system. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2011. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Paper no. 64: Accessed March 10, 2014 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/bocsar/documents/pdf/bb64.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/bocsar/documents/pdf/bb64.pdf Shelf Number: 131846 Keywords: RailroadsTrainsTransit CrimeTransit Safety |
Author: Donald, Jennifer S. Title: The Use of Social Media Networks and Mobile Phone Applications for Reporting Suspicious and Criminal Activities on Mass Transit Summary: The threat of terrorism remains in the forefront daily, and public transportation systems remain a preferred target for terrorist attacks. Mass transit customers have long served as the "eyes and ears" of the public transportation environment. In support of the Department of Homeland Security's See It Say It campaign, mass transit customers contribute to this effort by reporting suspicious and criminal activities on subways and buses. The use of social media networks and mobile phone applications by mass transit law enforcement is slowly evolving as a tool for reporting suspicious and criminal activities on subways and buses. By reviewing the data and current use of social media networks and smartphone applications such as by mass transit law enforcement agencies, this thesis demonstrates that citizens want to play a role in assisting law enforcement in solving crimes. Mass transit law enforcement agencies can leverage community involvement and reduce crime by providing customers with an anonymous means for reporting suspicious and criminal activities. However, whether the use of social media networks and smartphone applications have resulted in an increase in reporting suspicious and criminal activities and a reduction in crime is unresolved, warranting future study in this area. Details: Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School, 2013. 117p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed March 28, 2014 at: http://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=750162 Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=750162 Shelf Number: 132018 Keywords: Public TransportationSocial Media NetworksTerrorism Transit CrimeTransit Safety |
Author: Gallison, Jordana Kimberly Title: The Skytrain as a Exporter of Crime? Exploring the Spatial Distribution of Crime on the Canada Line Summary: The Canada Line is the most recent expansion of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain system. The implementation of the new mass transit route aroused many concerns and fears that the expansion of the SkyTrain would facilitate a greater number of crimes occurring to the stations and cities that host the new line. The following study was conducted to determine whether such fears of transit expansion and crime growth could be validated. This study offers a preliminary evaluation of the impact upon crime at seven stations of the Canada Line. Time series techniques were used to analyze crime data from the Richmond detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) from January 2006 to August 2011. Results of the study are considered in relation to a number of various factors influencing both the type and geographical location of the region. The study illustrates the importance for planners of considering the relationship between crime, land use and transit systems. Details: Burnaby, BC: Simon Fraser University, 2012. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed April 21, 2014 at: http://summit.sfu.ca/item/12286 Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: http://summit.sfu.ca/item/12286 Shelf Number: 132091 Keywords: Mass TransitTransit CrimeTransit Safety |
Author: Schulz, Dorothy Moses Title: Video Surveillance Uses by Rail Transit Agencies Summary: Previous TCRP reports, notably Electronic Surveillance Technologies on Transit Vehicles (Maier and Malone 2001) and Transit Security Update (Nakanishi 2009), have studied overall security and the use of electronic video surveillance technology in the transit environment. Improving Transit Security (Needle and Cobb 1997) and Guidelines for the Effective Use of Uniformed Transit Police and Security Personnel (Interactive Elements Inc. 1997) considered how transit agencies were using video surveillance as part of their overall security strategies, primarily in conjunction with uniformed patrol by police or security officers. Most of the examples and case studies in earlier reports combined discussions of the use of electronic video surveillance cameras in bus and rail systems and few considered nonsecurity uses of such technology. This synthesis differs from the earlier ones in several ways. It is the first synthesis to document the current use of electronic video surveillance technology solely by passenger rail agencies and to consider the totality of its use, including onboard railcars and along the right-of-way (ROW). The synthesis also describes current administrative policies on monitoring video images either in real time or for post-event analysis; policies on archiving and storing images and access to them by employees, other public agencies (primarily police), and the general public; and funding sources for installing new or upgrading existing video surveillance systems. Results of a survey emailed to passenger rail agencies throughout the United States are used to document important issues, including the following: - The percentage of stations, station platforms, or shelters where surveillance is employed and how decisions are made on which locations to cover. - The percentage of railcars in which onboard surveillance is employed and how decisions are made on which vehicles to cover. - Whether video surveillance is employed along the ROW and, if so, where. - The type of video surveillance systems in use and any special features they may utilize. - Policies pertaining to monitoring, recording, and archiving images, including chain of custody policies. - Purposes other than for crime/vandalism prevention for which surveillance is employed and its perceived effectiveness for those applications. - Whether patrons or employees have been surveyed regarding their perceptions of security and, if so, what those perceptions are. - Funding sources for installing and/or upgrading electronic video surveillance systems. - Existing plans for installing video surveillance systems in new vehicles or stations. Forty-three completed surveys were received from the 58 passenger rail agencies to which questionnaires were sent, a response rate of 73%. Five agencies were selected as case study sites because they reflected a variety of modes, had different security configurations (transit police or reliance on local agencies), and were upgrading their systems to include technologies that other agencies are likely to be considering. These agencies provided opportunities to share information in a lessons-learned format. Agencies that did not employ surveillance technology were encouraged to complete the survey by answering two brief questions: (1) whether the agency was considering installing a surveillance system and, if so, where, or (2) whether the agency was not considering installing a surveillance system and, if so, why not. All the responding agencies employed video surveillance in some capacity. Although the authors cannot speak for agencies that did not respond, it is reasonable to say that all passenger rail transit agencies make at least some use of electronic video surveillance on their property. Details: Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board, 2011. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: TCRP Synthesis 90: Accessed July 16, 2014 at: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_90.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_90.pdf Shelf Number: 132681 Keywords: Crime PreventionTrainsTransit CrimeTransit SafetyTransportation SecurityVideo Surveillance |
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Transport Committee Title: Security on the Railway. Fifth Report of Session 2014-15 Summary: Crime on Britain's railways decreased year-on-year over the past decade. That trend shows the effectiveness of the specialist rail policing provided by the British Transport Police (BTP). We were impressed by the BTP's commitment to tackling crime while minimizing delays for the travelling public. Despite the welcome decline in overall crime, we identified areas where the BTP could improve its performance. The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) is the body with responsibility for setting the BTP challenging but achievable targets to tackle crime on the railway. The BTPA must fulfil its remit and avoid any perception that it is too close to the people whom it should be holding to account. We concluded that the BTP model of developing specialist policing skills and securing funding from transport providers might usefully be applied to other transport modes, such as aviation. Such an approach could minimise delays, maximise security and reduce the cost of policing to taxpayers. In the course of our inquiry, we heard that vulnerable children and young people are often found in and around railway stations. We were therefore surprised to learn that the BTP currently has no targets in relation to child protection. The Department for Transport, the BTPA, the BTP and the charity sector should work together to tackle this emerging issue by examining the available data and reviewing current practice. Details: London: The Stationery Office, 2014. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmtran/428/428.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmtran/428/428.pdf Shelf Number: 133927 Keywords: Public TransportationRailways Transit Crime (U.S.)Transit Safety |
Author: Brown, Radhika Title: Getting Safety on Track. Expanding Edmonton's LRT Design Guidelines to Improve Women's Perceptions of Safety at Transit Stations Summary: People base their travel choices on their perceptions of personal safety in environments such as transit stations. Women are more likely to perceive public spaces as threatening and they use public transit more than men, to access fundamental needs such as employment, childcare, education and healthcare. Effective design can reduce crime and fear by creating defensible spaces that assert ownership, and offer opportunities for natural surveillance. This is the underlying concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Creating transit stations that make users feel safe could potentially increase use of public transit among women, particularly at off-peak hours. Identifying elements that affect women's feelings of safety in suburban (non-central) surface LRT stations in Edmonton can guide future station development, and reduce experiences of fear in existing stations for a safer and more inclusive transit system. The aim of this study is to determine how the City of Edmonton can better address women's safety in suburban (non-central) surface LRT stations through expanding their existing design guidelines to incorporate both CPTED guidelines as well as additional elements addressed by the safety audit checklist provided in the City of Edmonton's Safety Audit Guide for Crime Prevention (2000). The main questions guiding research are: 1. In what ways do the City of Edmonton's existing LRT Design Guidelines for Edmonton Transit System (ETS) incorporate CPTED guidelines, if at all? 2. What are the similarities and differences between the CPTED guidelines and the criteria that enhance safety in public spaces as noted in the Safety Audit Guide for Crime Prevention developed by the City of Edmonton, which is based on the Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC) Women's Safety Audit Guide? 3. How can the City of Edmonton's LRT Design Guidelines be expanded to enhance women's safety at above-ground suburban light-rail transit stations? The research involved a review of the published literature on gendered fear of crime in public spaces, the relationship of the built environment to perceptions of safety, and situational crime prevention. This was followed by a document review of the City of Edmonton's LRT Design Guidelines for Edmonton Transit System (ETS) (2011), as well as CPTED guidelines from the existing literature. A safety audit was undertaken using the a slightly modified version of the Checklist of Safety Audit for Crime Prevention in the City of Edmonton's Safety Audit Guide for Crime Prevention (2000). The key CPTED principles of natural surveillance, territorial definition, compatible building placement, and building form formed the broad framework under which the specific concerns addressed by the safety audit were classified. The findings of the safety audits conducted at Clareview and Century Park stations showed that there had been some, but not full, integration of CPTED principles in the design and upkeep of these stations. The newer Century Park station benefitted from the transparency resulting from the extensive use of glass in the building, and offered better natural surveillance opportunities than the older Clareview station which used concrete and had no windows on the lower level. Century Park was also noticeably better-maintained than Clareview, where signs of vandalism, disrepair, and poor maintenance contributed to feelings of insecurity. Both stations were fairly isolated at night, due to lack of activity-generating land uses in the immediate area of the station. The findings of the safety audit emphasize the importance of natural surveillance and territorial definition (maintenance and defensibility of space) in creating feelings of safety in transit users. Recommendations were formulated based on the findings of the safety audits: Conduct safety audits at all LRT stations. The results of these safety audits could then inform the design of future LRT stations in the expanding network, and provide a CPTED framework that is better tailored to the specific opportunities and challenges of the Edmonton transit system. Details: Kingston, ONT: School of Urban and Regional Planning, Queen's University, 2013. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed November 13, 2014 at: http://qspace.library.queensu.ca/bitstream/1974/8328/1/Brown_Radhika_201309_MPL.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Canada URL: http://qspace.library.queensu.ca/bitstream/1974/8328/1/Brown_Radhika_201309_MPL.pdf Shelf Number: 134081 Keywords: Crime PreventionCrime Prevention Through Environmental DesignDesign Against CrimeFear of CrimeTransit Crime (Canada)Transit SafetyTransportation Security |
Author: Plant, Jeremy F. Title: Securing and Protecting America's Railroad System: U.S. Railroad and Opportunities for Terrorist Threats Summary: On any given day, thousands of trains move across the American landscape. Each one of them presents a potential threat to the safety of individuals and families, to the continued functioning of our communities and our economy, and to the life of our great cities. Whether carrying millions of workers to and from their jobs, or providing the safest means of transporting hazardous materials, or bringing food and agricultural necessities to consumers, railroads pose an inviting target to would-be terrorists. Yet no significant act of terrorism has been directed against U. S. railroads, and we lack hard information on the nature of the terrorist risks involved in rail transport. This report highlights the potential threats, examines the response of government and the rail industry to the post-9/11 security responsibilities, and suggests ways in which public policy and rail operations can be better directed to meet the challenges of security in an age of terrorist activity. Efforts to secure the nation's rail system have been undertaken by federal, state, and local government agencies and by private rail operators. These activities differ fundamentally between the passenger and freight modes. Driven by events such as the Madrid and London rail attacks, and by the assumption that since the 9/11/01 events all passenger modes of travel in the U.S. constitute potential terrorist targets, passenger rail security has been largely entrusted to the public sector, albeit with less attention and fewer resources granted for passenger rail security than for aviation. Freight rail security has also been driven by events but has been guided by the private sector rail industry. Resources currently directed to rail security are inadequate, given the potential for catastrophic loss of life or economic disruption from attacks on the rail system. The growing use of rail systems for work-related passenger travel and the critical role played by freight railroads in U.S. and global commerce makes insuring their security a matter of urgent public concern. While the efforts to secure the system led by the Department of Homeland Security represent a good start in tackling the issues, legislation specifically dealing with rail security is needed to identify the threats, clarify the roles of the various public and private actors, and establish a level of funding commensurate with the importance of the rail system and the potential loss of life and economic damage that might result from terrorist attacks. In addition to prevention, the rail system plays or can play an important role in mitigation and recovery efforts after man-made or natural disasters. Details: Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg, 2007. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2015 at: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.476.9059&rep=rep1&type=pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.476.9059&rep=rep1&type=pdf Shelf Number: 136985 Keywords: Homeland SecurityRailroadsTerrorismTransit CrimeTransit SafetyTransportation Security |
Author: Victoria (Australia). Auditor General Title: Public Safety on Victoria's Train System Summary: Public transport services, and in particular trains, play a significant role in the community. Passengers should feel safe as they use these services regardless of the time of day or night. The protective services officers (PSO) program was established to reduce crime and improve perceptions of safety on Melbourne's train system. Perceptions of the safety of the metropolitan train system at night have improved since the start of the PSO program, but the extent to which this can be attributed to the presence of PSOs is unknown. It is also not possible to assess whether PSOs have had any impact on crime on the metropolitan train system. Advice provided to government to support decisions on the establishment and deployment of the PSO program was comprehensive, however, performance monitoring has been limited. Victoria Police does not have an effective performance monitoring regime in place to support ongoing development or future advice on the program's efficiency or effectiveness. Additionally, there is an opportunity to drive greater awareness of the presence of PSOs, further improving perceptions of safety and increasing patronage. Details: Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer, 2016. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 25, 2016 at: http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/publications/20160224-Public-Safety/20160224-Public-Safety.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/publications/20160224-Public-Safety/20160224-Public-Safety.pdf Shelf Number: 137972 Keywords: Public TransportTrainsTransit CrimeTransit SafetyTransportation Security |
Author: Olarte Bacares, Carlos Augusto Title: Impact of urban public transport enhancements on crime rate: a diff-diff analysis for the case of Transmilenio Summary: One of the biggest questions of agglomerations today focuses on the problem of the public transport supply. To deal with this, Bogota has developed a new urban transport system that has had worldwide recognition since 2000: Transmilenio. While most studies have focused on studying the impact of this new public transport system with respect to the environment, hedonic prices, employment and urbanism, among others, none (except one) have studied the question of the evolution of crime linked to the existence of Transmilenio. The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the evolution of urban transport, which is traduced on the construction and on the improvements of Transmilenio, has had a direct impact on the crime rates in the city. By collecting a set of spatially referenced data regarding crimes in 112 of the 117 planning zones that make up the city, this research follows a differences-in-differences methodology to test the causality of the transport system in the evolution of crime rates in each zone for different periods. After a deep descriptive analysis of data and the implementation of the econometric methodology suggested, results indicate that enhancement of the public transport system has had no clear impact on crime rates in all zones of the city. Depending on the zones and on the Transmilenio line in question, the transport system may increase or decrease the number of crimes on each zone beneficiaries or not from the improvement of the system. However, this research gives a non-negligible number of hints to take in consideration on further studies. Details: Paris: University of Paris, Centre for Economics, 2013. 23p. Source: Internet Resorure: MPRA Paper No. 53967: Accessed December 8, 2016 at: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/53967/1/MPRA_paper_53967.pdf Year: 2013 Country: France URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/53967/1/MPRA_paper_53967.pdf Shelf Number: 140353 Keywords: Transit CrimeTransit SafetyTransportation and CrimeUrban Areas and CrimeUrban Crime |
Author: Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Title: Transit Protective Services Officers: An exploration of corruption and misconduct risks Summary: Since 2011, transit Protective Services Officers (PSOs) have been employed by Victoria Police to patrol metropolitan and major regional railway stations. Their functions include maintaining a visible presence on train stations and surrounding areas, engaging with the community and fostering a sense of safety. They exercise a range of powers including the power to arrest and detain people, to request personal information, and to search people and property. This report reviews complaint and use of force data relating to transit PSOs. IBAC identified three key areas of risk in relation to PSO conduct: assault and excessive use of force unauthorised access to and/or disclosure of information predatory behaviour involving members of the public. Engagement with the public is fundamental to the role of PSOs. This includes dealing with people who are vulnerable, for instance because they are minors, have alcohol and/or drug dependencies, are homeless, and/or have a disability or mental health issues. PSOs who have well developed communication and conflict resolution skills are less likely to be the subject of complaints, such as allegations of assault or excessive force, or unlawful requests for information. IBAC therefore recommends that Victoria Police provides PSOs with ongoing communication and engagement training. The report also identifies that some members of the Victorian community may not fully understand the role of PSOs and the extent of their powers, which has the potential to lead to conflict with PSOs and therefore complaints. IBAC recommends that Victoria Police takes steps to ensure the public better understands the role and powers of PSOs. This report does not consider the effectiveness of the PSOs in fulfilling their functions. However, it is noted that in 2016, the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office conducted an audit of the effectiveness of the PSO program and found that while there is evidence that people who travel on trains at night feel safer due to PSOs, there is insufficient data to assess the impact, if any, that PSOs have had on crime rates. Details: Melbourne: IBAC, 2016. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 23, 2016 at: http://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/docs/default-source/research-documents/transit-protective-services-officers---an-exploration-of-corruption-and-misconduct-risks.pdf?sfvrsn=4 Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/docs/default-source/research-documents/transit-protective-services-officers---an-exploration-of-corruption-and-misconduct-risks.pdf?sfvrsn=4 Shelf Number: 144838 Keywords: Police CorruptionPolice MisconductTransit SafetyTransit Security |