Transportation Security

Attacks on a country's transportation infrastructure can have serious and destabilizing impacts that are further complicated by the public availability of information relevant to these targets. Recognizing the potential damage of such attacks, RAND conducts research and provides essential planning and vulnerability assessment tools to public and private organizations from metropolitan transit authorities to airlines and rail companies.

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Tighten Up Mass-Transit Security

    Published commentary by RAND staff: Tighten Up Mass-Transit Security, in Newsday.

    Aug 22, 2006

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Selecting for Security

    The recent decision to conduct random searches of backpacks and packages carried by passengers on New York and Boston subways, commuter trains, and buses has provoked controversy. Americans want better security, but remain wary about how it is provided.

    Jul 26, 2005

  • Report

    Report

    Study Finds Airliner Anti-Missile Systems Too Expensive and Unreliable

    Equipping America's commercial airliners with systems to guard against attacks from shoulder-fired missiles is currently not cost-effective, but RAND-initiated research suggests the investment could be justified later if anti-missile systems are made more economical and reliable.

    Jan 20, 2005

  • Testimony

    Testimony

    Terrorism and Rail Security

    Testimony presented to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on March 23, 2004.

    Dec 21, 2004

  • Testimony

    Testimony

    Terrorism and the Security of Public Surface Transportation

    Testimony presented to the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 8, 2004.

    Dec 21, 2004

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Trains, Buses and Terror

    Published commentary by RAND staff.

    May 3, 2004

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Breach of Airline Security Is Nothing to Panic About

    The arrest of Nathaniel T. Heatwole on charges of smuggling box cutters, bleach and matches aboard two commercial airliners reminds us that, despite significant improvements since Sept. 11, our security systems are not perfect. They never will be.

    Oct 21, 2003

  • Report

    Report

    Designing Airports for Security: An Analysis of Proposed Changes at LAX

    The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Master Plan explores a variety of ways to meet the changing aviation needs of Southern California in coming decades.

    Jan 1, 2003

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Fliers Have Reason to Jettison Jitters

    Published commentary by RAND staff.

    Sep 3, 2002

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Get Used to It: Our Airports Are Vulnerable to Terrorism

    Published commentary by RAND staff.

    Jul 25, 2002

  • Report

    Report

    Safer Skies: Baggage Screening and Beyond — With Supporting Analyses

    Is the FAA's accelerated schedule for implementing air travel safety improvements feasible?

    Jan 1, 2002

  • Report

    Report

    Safer Skies: Baggage Screening and Beyond

    Is the FAA's accelerated schedule for implementing air travel safety improvements a reasonable goal?

    Jan 1, 2002

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Safeguarding the Skies

    Published commentary by RAND staff.

    Sep 30, 2001

  • Content

    Content

    Paul Brenner

    Senior Management Scientist
    Education M.S. in operations management, University of Michigan; B.S. in civil engineering, Princeton University; M.S. in management, MIT

  • Content

    Content

    Edward W. Chan

    Senior Operations Researcher
    Education Ph.D. in operations research, Cornell University

  • Content

    Content

    Joseph C. Chang

    Senior Physical Scientist
    Education PhD in computational science and informatics, George Mason University; MS in meteorology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; BS in atmospheric science, National Taiwan University

  • Content

    Content

    Ryan Consaul

    Senior International/Defense Researcher; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
    Education M.A. in national security studies, University of Kentucky; B.A. in international studies/political science, Virginia Military Institute

  • Content

    Content

    Andrew Lauland

    Senior International/Defense Researcher; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
    Education M.P.P. in public policy/admin/analysis, Harvard University; B.A. in economics, Georgetown University

  • Content

    Content

    Blas Nunez-Neto

    Senior Policy Researcher
    Education M.G.A. in government administration, Fels Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania; B.A. in political science and English, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania

  • Content

    Content

    K. Jack Riley

    Vice President, RAND National Security Research Division; Director, RAND National Defense Research Institute
    Education Ph.D. in public policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; M.S. in foreign service, Georgetown University; B.A. in economics and Russian, University of Michigan

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