Coordinating critical transportation infrastructure vulnerability

plans. The planning process should include representatives from all the departments that play a role
in ensuring the security and emergency preparedness of the transit system.
5.2.4 Inter-Agency Coordination
The Inter-Agency Coordination category is another unique feature of this tool because most
agencies do not consider the broader picture that they are part of a larger system and all planning
should incorporate other systems. In one jurisdiction there are usually many other transit agencies
with overlapping systems and which should be taken into account when plans are developed.
5.2.5 Resource Assessment
The Resource Assessment category asks the agency to assess the resources available including
intangibles such as personnel experience and skills, current programs and policies as well as tangibles
including monies and budgets.
5.2.6 Security Management Assessment
The Security Management Assessment category asks what security policies are currently in effect, for
example what policies are in effect for a bomb threat.
5.2.7 Critical Asset Assessment
The Critical Asset Assessment category is sub-divided into:
1. Electric Power
2. Telecommunications
3. Transportation
4. Support Services
Assets are “critical” when their loss either endangers human life or impacts the transit agency’s
ability to maintain service. This step in the assessment process enables the agency to identify what
assets must be protected, how these assets are valued both to the transit agency and a potential
adversary as well as the impact if these assets are lost. Lost meaning to passengers, employees, public
safety organization, general public and the transit operation. All assets are not critical, and some
assets are only critical under certain conditions. This category asks the agency to list the assets that
are mission critical. Without electric power, telecommunications, transportation and outside services
available, it is necessary to have a contingency for redundancy in the system. 22
5.2.8 Threat and Vulnerability Assessment
The Threat and Vulnerability Assessment category follows directly after the critical asset inventory
because it is important to identify and evaluate the vulnerabilities of these assets to specific threats,
22 Ohio Department of Transportation “Guide to Conducting Critical Asset Protection Self-Assessments”
PUBP 710/722 Page 25 of 60
WMATA Case Study June 5, 2003