INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT STUDIES PROGRAM: REPORT ON THE SPRING 2002 MISSION, SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES AT ALL-BUS SYSTEMS IN SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SIZED CITIES IN WESTERN EUROPE

The International Transit Studies Program is designed to assist in the professional development of transit managers, public officials, planners, and others charged with public transportation responsibilities in the United States. The program accomplishes this objective by providing opportunities for participants to learn from foreign experience while expanding their network of domestic and international contacts for addressing public transport problems and issues. The program arranges for teams of public transportation professionals to visit exemplary transit operations in other countries. This digest is an overview of the mission that investigated safety and security issues at all-bus systems. It is based on individual reports provided by the team members. Over a two-week period (June 14-29, 2002), the study team members met with staff members from nine public agencies and operating companies in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield, England; and Lyon, Grenoble, Bordeaux, and Toulouse, France. The contents of this digest are organized as follows: International Transit Studies Program; Safety and Security Issues at All-Bus Systems in Small- to Medium-Sized Cities in Western Europe; Emergency and Evacuation Plans; Marketing, Communication, and Education; Driver Protection--Actions and Technologies; Staff Hiring and Training; Restoration of Service; and Summary. Appendix A contains a list of the study mission team members and Appendix B contains a list of the study mission host agencies/companies.