There will be another September 11. On that day in 2002 we'll see exactly how much progress has been made in the fight against terrorism.
Few industries were spared when the World Trade Center buildings crumbled to earth. The event hit the U.S. like a nuclear bomb--the explosion started at ground zero and the fallout has spread nationwide. The transportation sector was knocked on its back.
And the airlines are still having trouble walking. Despite the tightening of some loose ends and a new security bill, consumer confidence is at an all-time low. Some travelers have turned to the interstate instead of the runway--but what's the security word on the street?
Two months ago it was reported that a group received training certificates from a trucking school in Colorado. The twist to the story was none of the members actively pursued jobs after graduation. In Pennsylvania a license examiner was selling credentials which enabled people to receive hazardous material trucking licenses. "But there is no evidence that these people were in any way tied to terrorism," Larry King, deputy secretary for planning at the Pennsylvania DOT, told ROADS&BRIDGES.
Still, true or not, the incidents gave a boost to a growing fear--an attack on the surface.
Fortunately, the U.S. Government, state DOTs and industry associations are looking to strike first.
For more on the story, read the December issue of ROADS&BRIDGES.
