Public Transportation Security, Volume 6: Applicability of Portable Explosive Detection Devices in Transit Environments

This sixth volume of TCRP Report 86, "Public Transportation Security," will be of interest to transit general managers; transit law-enforcement and security officials; and operations, training, and human-resource staffs. It will also be of interest to federal, state, and local law- enforcement representatives. Although some transit agencies deploy bomb- sniffing canine units, technology-based explosive detection devices have not been used on a routine basis in transit systems. This report assessed the usefulness of portable explosive detectors in a transit environment. Commercially available portable explosive detection units were tested in the laboratory as well as in field tests in actual transit agency environments such as subway stations and platforms, bus stations, tunnels, and repair facilities. Training, implementation issues, and specific information on explosives detection are discussed herein.