FTA 09-03 
Monday, April 14, 2003 
Contact:  Kristi Clemens 
Tel.: (202) 366-4043

Federal Transit Administration Partners with the Transit Industry, the American Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to Launch Emergency Preparedness Campaign  

Jennifer L. Dorn, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the American Red Cross and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to launch a partnership designed to ensure that transit passengers are prepared for emergencies of all types. 

“Security is a top priority of the Bush Administration and Secretary Mineta,” said Administrator Dorn.   “Our Nation’s transit agencies are better prepared and more secure today than they have even been, and this partnership is an important next step in the industry’s efforts to ensure that public transportation passengers are as prepared as they can be while riding the subways, buses and all other forms of transit.” 

The FTA has emphasized and implemented three priorities to ensure emergency preparedness for transit security.  They are: 

• Training -- All transit employees must be trained to deter, detect, mitigate, and respond to a variety of emergency scenarios.
• Emergency Preparedness – Local agencies must ensure that emergency plans are in place and routinely practiced.
• Public Awareness –The riding public is an important resource in the fight against terrorism.   Passengers are aware of their surroundings and can spot suspicious or unusual activity, and need to know how to communicate with transit officials.  It is also critical that passengers know how to exit systems in the event of an emergency.

Transit agencies and Red Cross chapters around the country are being contacted in an effort to expand the program to communities of all sizes. 

###

Briefing Room