A US Event and the Impact on US Transportation - Essay Example

Identify a US event and explain the impact on US Transportation The September 11, 2001 attacks on the United s have created a change to the security systems of the nation. Security systems are bolstered along with huge expenses to prevent any form of threat to the transportation process. The national spending on security of transportations systems have enormously increased in the recent years. There has also been immense effort to safeguard the transportation systems of the country and this is in the wake of the 9/11 multiple terrorist attacks that stands testimony to the vulnerability of US transportation. The main challenge for these measures is to balance the expenses, profits, performance and timeliness while ensuring safety from terrorist attacks. Since transportation is an inevitable part of the U.S economy balancing all these factors has turned out to be a tough task. There are various issues which the government and the transportation industry are yet to implement in a smooth manner to ensure performance, profit and safety. Major security focus is laid on the aviation industry post the 9/11 attacks. The increase in air cargo and also increased the vulnerability of passengers towards terrorist attacks. Domestic air cargo is expected to grow by 50 percent while international cargo is set to grow to 110 percent by 2016. Due to these reasons, 100 percent physical examination of air cargo loaded in passenger aircrafts have been made mandatory by 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007. The Act is proposed to be fully implemented by the year 2009. But this system of security checks on air cargo is opposed by the aviation industry due to the cost and time involved in screening the cargo. The industry in turn has suggested a risk based approach as practiced by the Dutch customs by collaborating Border Protection and U.S.Customs. The security of trucks is maintained through a number of regulations. Commercial Motor Vehicles Safety Act restricts the licenses of tractor-trailers to persons and requires written and physical examination of the person with zero driving violations and criminal records. The steps of Homeland security to ensure safety intersect efficiently with the trucking business at border crossings and seaports. For instance, a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for truck drivers who move goods from and to ports is proposed to be implemented. Further, the TWIC method of security would require threat evaluation that comprises biometric credential for the truck drivers. This initiative is delayed due to the doubt over the efficiency of the system. Homeland Security further lays emphasis on security for truck cargoes that move between sea and air ports. X-ray and radiological screening is conducted at U.S. ports where truck containers move through the port facilities. Security is strengthened voluntarily by the (C-TPAT) Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism with some trading associates of US through groups that evaluate risks of supply chain related to goods transiting through ports. The Homeland Security also ensures safety through intelligent seals by transmitting signals. The security of railroads is also bolstered in the wake of the 9/11 environment. Railcars are tracked through RFID (Radio Frequency Identification devices) throughout the United States. Passive RFID tracks rail transports through scanners and active RFID that pass real time signals are not widely used now. The Department of Transportation and the DHS is required to work in coordination to implement the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act as a part of security guidelines envisioned by the homeland security. The Act is also formulated to increase security measures of rail, increase security inspectors and provide funds for security research and development. Post 9/11 security measures of the American transportation system have placed significant focus on enhancing security for maritime shipping. There has been widespread measure to find a good balance between security of containers and the free movement of goods from foreign countries. The measures include Container Security Initiative and C-TPAT that reduced the gaps in security. The American government continues to require other countries with which there are trade relationships to legislate strict security process in coordination with World Trade Organization, International Maritime Organization and other international organizations. However, there are discouraging factors that challenge the security of ports. In a year around eleven million containers reach the United States by sea and the Customs and Border Protection conducts close examination of less than ten percent of the containers. There has been considerable improvements in the number of containers checked at ports post the 9/11 attacks. The CBP has an automated risk checking program which checks the manifest of consignments that are due to arrive at U.S. ports and tag those consignments as high risk. The initiative of the United States to perform 100 percent checking on American bound sea consignment has come under debate. Though European and other nations extents support for these security initiatives, retailers, port operators and other stakeholders are apprehensive about the process due to the high cost involved, operational feasibility and technical credibility. The latter feel that the high cost involved is unacceptable and 100 percent checking would disrupt international commerce. The MSTA (Maritime Security Transportation Act) was enacted to offer security support and regulatory measures to safeguard passengers, screen vehicles and baggage, adopt security controls, personnel identification, set up restricted regions, installation of surveillance device and access control (Gropman 2008). In addition to national security measures, several regional systems has come up to secure the transportation system of the United States post the 9/11 attacks. The Virginia Department of Transportation operates an exclusive Security Department. Awareness training is provided by the WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) to its employees to identify and react to probable terrorists attacks. In Maryland, bridge inspectors are on the vigil on important structures to locate suspicious events, unusual objects or other unusual activities. The 9/11 attacks turned out to be a wake up call for State highway authorities and related organizations to protect the nation’s tunnel and bridge infrastructure from possible attacks. The WSDOT is conducting awareness programs to its employees to pay better attention to its settings by collaborating with AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) task force. The training comprises Homeland Security Advisory System, basic surveillance methods, methods to react to suspicious conditions, identification of possible infrastructure targets, etc. The training is conducted in three different modules to the cover field employees, non-field employees and vessel crews and terminal staff at the States ferry organization. The Bay Area Security Systems (BASE) is formed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) by constructing fence for bridges and infrastructures. Security for transportation system has been enhanced by BASE by fixing surveillance camera to capture piers, access points and other infrastructural points. Traffic anomalies are monitored by high altitude cameras for activities like pulling vehicles from the road where it is not allowed and the like. Caltrans has appointed consultants to conduct vulnerability evaluation on structures and bridges. The engineering design cannot be altered for longstanding structures; therefore transportation security will be an ongoing process (After 9/11: Making Transportation Security a Way of Life. September 2002). The United States Department of Transportation has formed a rule which requires a fee of $2.5 for each air passenger to assist the Federal government’s expenses to provide aviation safety. The law authorizing Security Fee under the Aviation and Transport Security Act was enacted on November 19, 2001. With the enactment of this law, the Congress and the administration is committed to make remarkable enhancements in the field of aviation security. The fund collected through Security Fee is used to develop innovative aviation security methods to support this significant measure. The rule requires collection of the Security Fee from foreign as well as domestic direct air carriers that move from airports in the United States. The funds are used to pay baggage and passenger screeners, law enforcement staff and security managers at airports and to support aviation security measure like the purchase of explosive recognition devices. In conclusion, the 9/11 attacks have changed the U.S transportation security scenario. Security is strengthened for all forms of transportation system and related infrastructure. The transportation system is safeguarded using state policies and national initiatives in the form of training, vigilance and funding. The free movement of transportation systems has changed to a new method where every system should undergo checking before moving through strategic points especially at ports and borders. Therefore, the U.S. transportation system has transformed into a high security matter post the 9/11 attacks. Reference After 9/11:Making Transportation Security a Way of Life. September 2002. Available: http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/sep02/01.htm Accessed on November 25, 2008 Gropman, A.L. October 2008. Security and Transportation: A Tough Balancing Act. Available: http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2008/October/Pages/SecurityandTransportation.aspx Accessed on November 25, 2008 U.S. Transportation Department Imposes September 11 Security Fee. December 31, 2001. Available: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot13001.htm. Accessed on November 25, 2008 Read More