Transportation

Senate votes to bolster border security; rejects increased tax on airline tickets
Senate approves homeland security budget which includes major allocations for border security; for second year in a row Congress rejects administration’s plan to increase tax on airline tickets
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Australian transportation system vulnerable to terrorist attack
A RAND study finds the Australian transportation system is exceedingly vulnerable to terrorist attacks, and that states do not do enough to increase security; an interesting point: RAND argues that reducing the lethal effect of explosions in trains would be a better investment than some of the high-tech security measures being pursued by states such as the CCTV systems
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Rotterdam’s transportation system beefs up security
The events in London last year, and in Mumbai a couple of days ago, offer a grim reminder of the vulnerability of mass transportation systems; the city of Rotterdam wants its transportation system to become less vulnerable
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L-3 teams with DHS in RSP program
New York-based L-3 Communications again joins DHS in its rail security program; this time around the program will be using L-3 technology to scan riders in New Jersey for explosives
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DHS modifies airline passenger information program
DHS wants international airlines to help it check for suspected terrorists who try to board U.S.-bound planes, and for domestic airlines to provide it with lists of all passengers getting on board; DHS checks the lists thus provided against the department’s no-fly watch-list and alert the airlines; trouble is, the no-fly list contains so many inaccuracies that this checking procedure has resulted in many delays – and even in planes being forced to go back to the port of origin, only to discover that a suspected terrorist on board was not a terrorist after all; DHS is now giving airlines more time to implement an improved system
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Foreign companies line up to bid on Midway airport
Earlier this year the firestorm over a Dubai-based company’s plans to run operations in several U.S. ports caused many to rethink the question of foreign ownership of U.S. critical infrastructure assets; still, as the city of Chicago is getting set to lease its Midway airport, all the likely bidders are non-U.S. companies
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Airports security measure may spread foot fungus -- and more
Taking off shoes may help in increasing airline security, but study now finds that it exposes passengers to other risks such as foot fungus and gonorrhea
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Ability to switch between fuels on-the-fly successfully demonstrated
One way to prepare for a disaster is to make sure your power generators can quickly switch from one fuel to another; a Connecticut company successfully demonstrates that it can be done
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DHS funds for New York City are cut, but Long Island shuttle service continues to receive money
DHS cut anti-terror fund for New York City by $83 million, but a shuttle service connecting New York to the Hamptons, continues to receive funding for security improvements; some question the order of priorities here
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Illinois joins TSA’s HAZPRINT program
Illinois’ DMV joins TSA’s HAZPRINT program which allows TSA to collect fingerprint and demographics for drivers transporting hazardous materials
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Savi Networks teams with Georgia's MLIC to track cargo
California company helps Georgia ports and terminals with tracking cargo with their real-time monitoring services
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ExxonMobil Massachusetts fuel depot shut down after illegal aliens found working there
Worries about the safety of super tankers carrying oil at Boston Harbor combine with unease about illegal immigration, as more than a dozen illegal immigrants are arrested while being used at the harbor for clean-up of hazardous material (what is more, the subcontractor also violated the law requiring protective gear to be worn during such operation)
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Explosive detection systems installed in truck weighing stations
A new market opportunity opens up for explosive detection systems: truck weighing stations
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DHS adds $10 million to antiterror programs of NYC transportation system
DHS received a lot of criticism for cutting more than $80 million from New York City’s antiterrorism grants; the department has now added $10 million to the city’s transportation system’s security plan
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U.S. Department of Energy pushes for cellulosic ethanol as an alternative to gasoline
Many experts doubt the scientific validity of the effort to create useable fuel for transportation from cellulosic ethanol (they suggest that a much quicker, cheaper, and more effective way to produce ethanol for cars would be, first, to produce it from sugar rather than corn and, second, to reduce dramatically the tariffs on Brazilian ethanol) – nonetheless the Department of Energy issues an ambitious roadmap for ethanol production from biomass
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