Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the need to identify inadequacies in transit procedures and staff was dramatically increased. In order to explore and assess existing plans and practices for emergency response and security preparedness, Planners Collaborative distributed an email/fax-back survey to over 200 transit systems throughout the country, achieving a 40 percent return rate. The survey sought information on existing transit systems’ plans and practices for responding to both safety and security emergencies. Responses were compiled into a database of emergency and mobilization strategies, resources, and practices, which served as a foundation for categorizing activities performed by transit systems.
