Leave The Security To Us

Nov 1, 2003 12:00 PM, By Michael Fickes

Dallas-based Greyhound Lines Inc. will nearly double its spending on security this year, thanks to a $9 million grant from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The nation's largest and only nationwide provider of intercity bus transportation, Greyhound typically spends $11 million a year on security.

The Greyhound grant comes from a $20 million fund allocated by TSA to improve the security of intercity bus transportation. All told, the program will fund 67 projects for intercity bus companies located in 25 states and the District of Columbia.

Greyhound's $9 million was the largest grant. The New Jersey Transit Corp. in Newark received $1.3 million, the second largest grant. Blue Star Charters and Tours Inc., Portland, Ore., received the smallest grant — $9,900. Generally, the grants ranged from $20,000 to $200,000.

The program is the first TSA effort to secure over-the-road bus travel. “TSA is committed to protecting America's freedom of mobility,” says TSA Administrator Admiral James M. Loy, by way of explaining the program. “Until recently, we have focused most of our attention and billions of dollars in spending on aviation programs and deadlines required by Congress. But Congress also requires us to balance our efforts among all forms of transportation. While addressing aviation, we have been studying rail, port, pipeline and highway transportation needs. Recently, we committed $167 million to port security. With this intercity bus program, we are working to secure over-the-road buses. We've even managed to budget an additional $10 million for intercity bus security in 2004.”

Does the TSA bus security program imply any particular security threat to road transportation? “Nothing in my daily 7:30 a.m. intelligence review has suggested a specific threat to intercity buses,” Loy says. “These grants are simply part of our responsibility for providing transportation security.”

Greyhound will use its grant to pay for the design, development, and installation of new transparent driver protection shields and state-of-the-art tracking and telecommunications equipment. The grant funds will also support existing Greyhound programs for passenger and baggage screening, site security assessments, and training for response to criminal and terrorist threats. Some of the funds will go to security enhancements such as fencing, lighting and surveillance equipment in bus parking and maintenance areas.

The driver shield, a sort of half door, encloses the driver's seat while passengers are boarding. On the road, the shield swings out and forms a gate across the aisle. The new shield, combined with an existing transparent enclosure set behind the driver, presents a significant obstacle to any passenger that might want to harm the driver. While not impenetrable, the shield will slow an attacker down, giving the driver time to pull to a stop before responding. “When something happens on a bus, it usually doesn't involve a weapon,” says Greg Herbold, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union local 1700. “I've had incidents of people trying to grab me and gain control of the bus. The shield will help prevent this.”

At least it will slow down an attacker and give the driver time to call for help with a new telecommunications system. The system, which will eventually replace cell phones currently carried by drivers, includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a wireless communications device. In an emergency, the driver can press a red button, connect to a local 911 operator, and converse hands-free or with a handset. The call button also alerts the Greyhound operational support center in Dallas. The GPS device tells both the driver and the operational center exactly where the bus is located. The system is designed to enable police to respond quickly to resolve an incident and to give fire and paramedic units a head start in finding and treating potential victims.

During a demonstration of the system, an operator in Dallas pinpointed the position of the demonstration bus in 10 seconds, giving the right address and noting that the bus was parked 15 meters south of L Street in the northeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C., which it was.

Greyhound plans to spend $5 million of the grant money to equip 1,700 of its 2,400 buses with driver shields. About $2.6 million will go toward the installation of the telecommunications system on 500 buses. The remaining $1.4 million will support passenger screening security, paying for metal detecting wands and training for screeners.

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