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Idaho Transportation
Department
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
Email


Public transportation vulnerability assessments
scheduled Jan. 17-27

One of the nation’s leading trainers in public transportation threats and vulnerabilities will return to Idaho next week to continue site assessments he began in August of Idaho’s public transportation providers.

Gary Gleason, president of Colorado-based Communiqué USA, will visit Pocatello Regional Transit in Pocatello, Wednesday (Jan. 18), and travel to Boise for meetings with ITD’s Division of Public Transportation on Friday (Jan. 20). His 11-day trip will include a review of the START commuter bus system in Jackson, Wyo.

After those stops, Gleason will assess public transportation systems in:

  • St. Maries, Valley Vista Care Corporation, Jan. 23
  • Plummer, Coeur d’Alene Tribe transportation, Jan. 24
  • Coeur d’Alene, North Idaho Community Express, Jan. 25
  • Bonners Ferry, Senior Hospitality Center, Jan. 26, and
  • Lewiston, Valley Transit, Jan. 27

ITD is leading the nation in assessing the vulnerability of the state’s public transportation systems and its program – delivered by Communique – has been chosen as a national model, Gleason said.

His firm, already a recognized authority in preparing safety and security plans for public transportation providers, was selected to conduct assessments and training nationwide by the Federal Transit Administration.

An incident last summer underscores the need for transportation providers serving the public to be aware of possible threats and identify vulnerabilities of their system. And it reaffirms the importance of training that began last summer throughout Idaho.

Two commercial buses traveling through Idaho were stopped for several hours in September after an unidentified caller reported placing a bomb on a bus destined for California. One bus was offloaded at the Malad Pass Rest Area on I-15 south of Pocatello and another was pulled over near the Hazleton exit of I-84, east of Twin Falls.

Searches failed to locate an explosive device and passengers were allowed to resume their journey.

Published 1-13-06