• How safe are U.S. railroads?

    Following the revelation that al Qaeda had aspired to attack U.S. railways, security experts, the media, and lawmakers have turned their attention to improving security for American trains; in a recent interview with CNN, Brian Michael Jenkins, the director of the Mineta Transportation Institute’s (MTI) National Transportation Security Center of Excellence, discussed the current state of railway security, how realistic creating an airline style screening system for railroads would be, and what measures need to be taken to secure railroads; to realistically improve rail security in a cost effective manner, Jenkins urged passengers to begin taking a more active role; Jenkins also urged the United States “to be more realistic about risk”

  • U.S. mayors want greater input in federal transportation funding decisions

    Last week the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) released the results of a recent survey of mayors in 176 cities on local infrastructure investment; the study revealed that mayors want the federal government to spend more money on infrastructure projects in metropolitan areas rather than highway expansion projects; 96 percent of mayors believed the federal government needed to increase spending on transportation infrastructure to fix rapidly deteriorating public infrastructure; a strong majority supported raising the gas tax to provide additional funds to improve infrastructure

  • CybersecurityGovernment launches cybersecurity plan

    Last week the Obama administration unveiled its plan to secure federal computer networks, critical industries, and consumers from cyberattacks; under the proposed plan, DHS will lead government efforts to secure networks with “primary responsibility within the executive branch for information security” ; DHS would also be empowered to set policies and activities for government systems; the plan would require critical infrastructure operators like electric companies and large financial firms to present cybersecurity plans to DHS for approval; DHS auditors would review the plans with the operators, discuss any shortcomings and “take other action as may be determined appropriate”