PT-ISAC and HSIN-PT Were Established to Serve as the Primary Security Information- Sharing Mechanisms for Public Transit Agencies

According to APTA and TSA officials, the PT-ISAC and the public transit  subportal on DHS’s HSIN (HSIN-PT) were designed to serve as the primary  mechanisms for sharing security-related information with public transit  agencies. HSIN-PT is also focused on providing security-related information  pertaining to the public transit industry. Public Transit Agencies We Surveyed Were Generally Satisfied with Federal Efforts to Share Security- Related Information, but Opportunities Exist to Improve These Efforts

		Large Transit Agencies and Rail Agencies Were Generally More Satisfied with Information-Sharing Efforts Than Midsized Agencies and Non-Rail Agencies

Our survey results indicate that public transit agencies’ satisfaction with  the security-related information they received varied with the type of  transportation service provided and whether the agency was large or  midsized. Among the 12 most  frequently cited mechanisms, public transit agencies were the least  satisfied with HSIN, both in terms of overall general satisfaction (19 of 33)  and for each of the six dimensions of quality. While TSA, through the working group, is  assessing, among other things, the extent to which information-sharing  mechanisms can be streamlined, there are no time frames established for  completing these efforts. DHS’s Information- Sharing Efforts Could be Enhanced by Developing More Specific Goals and Measures and Obtaining Additional Industry Feedback

		DHS and TSA Have Established Goals and Measures Related to Information Sharing, but Their Goals Are Not Specific to Public Transit and Existing Measures May Limit Program Assessment

DHS and TSA have established goals and output-oriented performance  measures for their information-sharing activities to help gauge the  effectiveness of their overall information-sharing efforts with security  stakeholders. TSA officials recognize the importance of establishing  specific goals and developing outcome-oriented measures, but they are in  the beginning stages of doing so and could not provide time frames for  when they plan to complete these efforts. Once the SCC/GCC  Information Sharing Working Group has developed options for improving  information sharing with public transit agencies, establishing time frames  for developing goals and related, outcome-oriented measures for the PT- ISAC, HSIN-PT, and TS-ISAC could assist TSA in obtaining more  meaningful information from which to gauge the effectiveness of these  information-sharing mechanisms. Specifically, until DHS establishes time  frames for developing goals and related outcome-oriented performance  measures for the PT-ISAC, HSIN-PT, and TS-ISAC, the department will be  limited in its ability to gauge the effectiveness of its information-sharing  efforts with the public transit industry. Such a process could help DHS and TSA assess the  effectiveness of their efforts to share security-related information with  public transit agencies. Recommendations for Executive Action

To help strengthen information sharing with public transit agencies, we  recommend that the Secretary of Homeland Security direct the Assistant  Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration to take the  following action in coordination with FTA and public transit agencies:    Establish time frames for the SCC/GCC Information Sharing Working  Group to develop options for improving information sharing to public  transit agencies and complete this effort, including the Working  Group’s efforts to:      assess opportunities to streamline existing information-sharing  mechanisms that target similar user groups with similar information  to reduce overlap, where appropriate; and    conduct targeted outreach efforts to increase awareness of the PT- ISAC and HSIN among agencies that are not currently using or  aware of these systems. To identify the mechanisms established or funded by the federal  government to serve as primary information sources for public transit  agencies, we reviewed and assessed relevant documentation, such as the  Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) Program Management  Plan, and interviewed officials from DHS components including the Office  of Infrastructure Protection (IP) within the National Protection and  Programs Directorate (NPPD), the Office of Intelligence and Analysis  (I&A), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security  Administration (TSA), as well as officials from the Federal Transit  Administration (FTA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to  discuss the mechanisms they use to share security-related information  with public transit agencies. The 96 public transit  agencies surveyed represent about 91 percent of total 2008 ridership. The final instrument, reproduced in an e-supplement we are issuing  concurrent with this report—GAO-10-896SP—displays the counts of  responses received for each question.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is committed to sharing information with public transit agencies. The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act directed GAO to report on public transit information sharing. This report describes (1) the primary mechanisms used to share security information with public transit agencies; and evaluates (2) public transit agencies' satisfaction with federal efforts to share security-related information (e.g., security threats) and opportunities to improve these efforts; and (3) the extent to which DHS has identified goals and measures for sharing information. GAO surveyed 96 of the 694 U.S. public transit agencies based on 2008 ridership and received 80 responses. The 96 public transit agencies surveyed represent about 91 percent of total 2008 ridership. GAO also reviewed documents, such as DHS's Information Sharing Strategy, and interviewed agency officials.

What GAO Found

According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)--which represents the public transit industry--and TSA officials, the Public Transportation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (PT-ISAC) and the public transit subportal on DHS's Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN-PT) were established as primary mechanisms for sharing security-related information with public transit agencies. The public transit agencies GAO surveyed also cited additional mechanisms for obtaining such information, including other public transit agencies. Further, in March 2010 TSA introduced the Transportation Security Information Sharing and Analysis Center (TS-ISAC), which is a subportal on HSIN focused on sharing security-related information with transportation stakeholders. Seventy-five percent of the public transit agencies GAO surveyed reported being generally satisfied with the security-related information they received; however, federal efforts to share security-related information could be improved. Specifically, three-fourths of public transit agencies reported being either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the information they received. Public transit agencies also reported that among the 12 most frequently cited mechanisms, they were the least satisfied with HSIN in terms of general satisfaction (19 of 33) and for each of six dimensions of quality--relevance, validity, timeliness, completeness, actionability, and ease of use. Twenty-four survey respondents also cited the need to streamline the information they received. GAO identified the potential for overlap between the PT-ISAC, the HSIN-PT, and the TS-ISAC, which all communicate similar unclassified and security-related information to public transit agencies. Federal and transit industry officials that GAO interviewed reported the need to streamline information sharing. Moreover, a greater proportion of survey respondents who were unaware of the PT-ISAC or HSIN were from midsize agencies, nonrail agencies, and those without their own police department. Federal and industry officials formed a working group to assess the effectiveness of information-sharing mechanisms, including developing options for streamlining these mechanisms. TSA officials stated that these options will also impact future outreach activities; however, no time frame has been established for completing this effort. Establishing such a time frame could help to ensure that this effort is completed. DHS and TSA have established goals and performance measures for some of their information-sharing activities to help gauge the effectiveness of their overall information-sharing efforts; however, they have not developed goals and outcome-oriented measures of results of activities for the mechanisms established as primary information sources for the public transit industry. TSA officials acknowledged the importance of establishing such goals and measures, but were unable to provide time frames for doing so. Establishing time frames for developing goals and outcome measures, once the working group effort is complete, could assist TSA in gauging the effectiveness of its efforts to share information with public transit agencies.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that DHS, among other things, (1) establish time frames for its working group to develop options for improving information sharing, including assessing opportunities to streamline mechanisms and conducting targeted outreach; and (2) establish time frames for developing goals and outcome-oriented measures of results. DHS concurred. GAO is issuing an electronic supplement with this report--GAO-10-896SP--which provides survey results.