FHWA Unveils New Web Site To Help Local, State Agencies Manage Surface Transportation Security |
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Federal Highway Administration
27 June 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal Highway Administration 21-03
Contact: Bill Outlaw, 202-366-0660
Friday, June 27, 2003
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced a new Web site to provide state and local agencies simple access to information on improving security in the operation of the surface transportation system.
"The need to ensure the security of America's surface transportation system is a top priority for the FHWA," said FHWA Administrator Mary E. Peters said. "We are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to help state and local officials develop and carry out a comprehensive set of improvements to increase the security of our transportation network."
Peters said that a key element in this plan is providing state and local agencies with valuable information that can help them to make wise decisions to improve the security of roadway operations in their areas. The new "FHWA Operations Security" Web site at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/OpsSecurity is part of the FHWA's efforts to help state and local transportation agencies develop initiatives to improve security through effective planning, operation and application of technology.
A section on the Web site offers specific information on how to plan effectively for managing emergencies, how to align action plans with the nation's Homeland Security Advisory System, and how to improve military mobilization on roadways. Roads are the primary means of responding to an incident. All emergencies and incidents have a transportation component, and roads are the critical means through which response and recovery strategies can be carried out.
An extra benefit is that many of the measures that improve security also improve transportation's ability to handle natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes.
The agency developed the Operations Security Web site in response to the expressed need on the part of state and local partners for technical guidance and best practices. The new site links to the information on transportation security from all of the department's administrations, from other federal agencies, and from the associations participating in the National Associations Working Group for Intelligent Transportation Systems. The Web site also links to articles, research, and other information related to transportation security.
More information on traffic operations is available at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov.