Incorporating Transportation Security Awareness into Routine State DOT Operations and Training

Overview

This report highlights the importance of security awareness for all state department of transportation employees and contractors. The report outlines a flexible “campaign” approach providing techniques to integrate all-hazards security awareness concepts and reminders into routine state DOT operations, maintenance, and training. Information obtained through a literature review, survey, and interviews was used to develop the guide. Section 1 provides a brief introduction to transportation security and the current role of the state DOTs in security. Security awareness is defined and differentiated from security training. The section also presents the importance of security awareness for all transportation executives, employees, and contractors. Section 2 addresses issues of organizational readiness and includes five key “Questions to Ask” to ensure that an agency is ready to have and support an effective security awareness program. Section 3 identifies the core components of a security awareness campaign, utilizing examples from current practices. The section includes general messages for all employees and suggested messages and delivery methods for operations and maintenance staff. Section 4 provides methods for promoting security awareness within a state DOT that can be relatively inexpensive to implement. Additional material is provided in the Appendices: an overview of current training available with links to training resources and training courses, a contact list for training organizations, and a directory of resources relevant to transportation security. In addition to the guide, a methodology report and a PowerPoint presentation describing the entire project are available on the TRB website (www.trb.org). This report should be helpful for state DOTs to improve the security of transportation systems within existing resource and budgetary constraints. Information contained in the report may also be valuable for transportation training organizations.