Meeting News - January 5, 2009 - (Page 20)

Transportation & Services Mumbai continued from cover Edited by William Ng william.ng@nielsen.com son Cliff Cole told MeetingNews that while “there is no specific threat to Amtrak,” security staff around the country remains vigilant after a Thanksgiving-holiday threat warning that put officials on high alert. Cole added that Amtrak has recently strengthened its security by deploying specialized teams that conduct random passenger and baggage checks. These teams, which include Amtrak Police—the rail carrier’s own law enforcement agency—as well as counterterrorism agents and canine units, also patrol and inspect trains and station platforms. Cole stressed that the new initiative was not a response to any specific threat, but was rather a part of Amtrak’s ongoing security enhancements. The measures were developed in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel, and reflect best practices by the New York City Subway and other high-volume rail systems around the world. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, which is responsible for all metropolitan New York airports, tunnels, and bridges, as well as the interstate bus terminal near Times Square, said it tightened security during the holiday season and will continue to be on special alert, although it did not offer specifics. Passenger rail security in the U.S. has been much debated in Congress, especially after the 2004 bombing of Madrid’s subway. Senator John McCain and others have called for more measures, stating that it is only a matter of time before a similar attack occurs here. However, there remains an air of unpreparedness against the type of attack that occurred in Mumbai. “I don’t think you can ever prepare for such an event,” said Charlie LeBlanc, president of Houston-based ASI Group, a global risk management company. “If you want to go from containment to preventative measures, there’s no foolproof way of stopping something like this.” LeBlanc said current measures being taken are “probably as good as they could be,” but that the paradigm-changing Mumbai attack, in which terrorists shot at civilians in a confined area like a hotel lobby or train station, is one that can’t be prevented, only contained. “What has to be the response is to try and limit the impact, which means more ground personnel—security forces, police—which would take down a terrorist before he could do more damage,” LeBlanc said. Will Obama Bring Order in the Air, Build High-Speed Rail? Business-travel industry leaders expect president-elect to revitalize overburdened airline and transportation systems As president-elect Barack Obama steps into office, travel industry experts are predicting that he will usher in greater airline regulation and make the development of high-speed train service and modernization of transportation infrastructure high priorities. They also suggest that Obama will reverse the Bush administration’s interest in privatizing the nation’s air-traffic control system. Roger Dow, president and CEO of Washington, DC-based Travel Industry Association, predicted that transportation issues will be a high priority for Obama, citing the president-elect’s support for travel by co-sponsoring the Travel Promotion Act and encouraging expansion of the Visa Waiver Program. Aviation-wise, “the good news is Obama has been outspoken in his support for modernizing our country’s air-traffic control system,” Dow said. He cited that travel hassles—inefficient security screenings, flight delays, and cancellations—have caused travelers to take 41 million less trips over the past year, costing the U.S. economy $26 billion. Dow is also hopeful that Obama will come through on his promise of a “National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank,” which would provide federal funding to rebuild America’s transportation infrastructure. approval on voluntary guidelines for airlines and airports in handling long delays as a step in the right direction. Like Dow, Verdery predicted an increase in funding for domestic infrastructure and high-speed passenger rail. Whether these play out or not, Jeff Green, principal of Atlanta-based Travel by Signature, which arranges group travel, predicted one improvement travelers will welcome: a slowdown in airfare increases. “Many [fare hikes] have been due to higher fuel prices,” said Green.“If fuel prices steady due to lower demand, then airfare doesn’t go up. When airfare is steady, the world travels more, thereby allowing the airlines to sell seats for less.” At press time, Obama selected his secretary of transportation, Republican Ray LaHood, a House representative from Illinois. LaHood is a former member of the House Appropriations Committee, and although he has maintained a low profile, he has been praised for his bipartisanship. H —Gretchen Kelly support for modernizing our country’s air-traffic control system. —Roger Dow, pres. & CEO, Travel Industry Assn. Obama has “outspoken inbeen his ” C. Stewart Verdery Jr., the National Business Travel Association’s government relations and federal strategies consultant, expected additional regulations on the aviation industry to be “debated heavily.” He pointed to a recent federal 20 MeetingNews January 5, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - January 5, 2009

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