Technology assessment
Subtitle: explosives detection technologies to protect passenger rail : report to congressional committees
Contributors: Barkakati, Nabajyoti, 1956-; Maurer, David
Publisher: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Washington, D.C.]
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Number of pages: 67
Subjects: Rules and practice; Evaluation; Railroads; Security measures; Explosives; Detection; United States. Transportation Security Administration; United States
Other titles: Explosives detection technologies to protect passenger rail
Description: Passenger rail systems are vital to the nation's transportation infrastructure, providing approximately 14 million passenger trips each weekday. Recent terrorist attacks on these systems around the world--such as in Moscow, Russia in 2010--highlight the vulnerability of these systems. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the primary federal entity responsible for securing passenger rail systems. In response to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2008, GAO conducted a technology assessment that reviews 1) the availability of explosives detection technologies and their ability to help secure the passenger rail environment, and 2) key operational and policy factors that impact the role of explosives detection technologies in the passenger rail environment. GAO analyzed test reports on various explosives detection technologies and convened a panel of experts comprised of a broad mix of federal, technology, and passenger rail industry officials. GAO also interviewed officials from DHS and the Departments of Defense, Energy, Transportation, and Justice to discuss the effectiveness of these technologies and their applicability to passenger rail. GAO provided a draft of this report these departments for comment. Four departments provided technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate.
Notes: Title from PDF title screen (GAO, viewed Dec. 31, 2010).

"July 2010."

"GAO-10-898."

Includes bibliographical references.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.