Public transportation systems are the lifeblood of modern cities, moving millions of people daily while facing an evolving landscape of security threats. From physical assaults, thefts and decreased ridership, transit security leaders must balance safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency.

To understand how security professionals are addressing these challenges, we spoke with subject matter experts in the field of public transportation security for a first-hand perspective to reveal strategies and best practices for strengthening resilience in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Key concerns such as risk assessments, collaboration with law enforcement, and human factors all influence security effectiveness and public transportation is no different. However, there are some challenges that are certainly unique to the space.

One challenge that is affecting services throughout the country is ridership. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), public transportation in the U.S. provided approximately 7.6 billion trips in 2022 which is a decrease from 10.1 billion trips in 2019.

There are a lot of factors that weigh into whether people utilize public transportation — such as less people traveling for work to city centers in a post pandemic world — or a perceived lack of safety.

“They're really recovering still from COVID, whether it be getting ridership back, a lot of big cities still do not have full occupancy in their in their town centers,” Charles Bohnenberger, Senior Vice President Government Services at Allied Universal, says. “You can have the cleanest system in the in the world but if it’s not safe, people won't ride it, so these agencies are being challenged to make the riders feel safe.”

Security and how safe passengers perceive various modes of transportation is a challenge those in the public transportation industry have to face.

Andrew Wilson, Executive Director of Safety & Security and Chief Safety Officer at TriMet in Portland, Oregon, says regular surveys from passengers help his team gauge if investments are working.

“They're telling us through the surveys that some of their primary concerns are safety related,” he says. “It is a pretty good measure that our riders are returning. We've made some significant investments in safety and security, and we’re hearing from our riders that they are thankful for more security.”

One change was switching to unarmed security in Portland. Prior to 2019, there were a lot of comments about there being too much law enforcement involved.

“We don't hear that now with unarmed security professionals out on the system. What we're hearing now is they feel like it's balanced. This is our kind of reimagined approach that we're doing utilizing the vast majority of unarmed security out in the system to do what law enforcement used to do,” he says. “And we're getting good feedback and we still continue to see ridership gains as well as reductions in crime on the system too.”

Other changes included decriminalizing fare evasion and hiring private security and crisis workers to assist riders and de-escalate conflicts. Wilson highlights a recent annual report which showed a more than 70% reductions in robbery and assault since 2022.

“In just three years’ time we've seen some very significant reductions,” he says.

Technology’s role

Anthony Incorvati, Business Development Manager, Transportation, North & Central America at Axis Communications highlights that public transportation agencies also have to contend with the challenge of creating a safe and secure environment while also providing a seamless and non-intrusive experience for passengers.

“These systems are porous by design and they need to be,” he says. “Routes can be expansive, go through several jurisdictions, and they are continuous, always moving. There’s a lot of people moving through and it's not like an airport where everyone goes to a security checkpoint.”

It is unquestionable that with evolving risks, advancing technology can certainly play a role in improving safety within public transportation.

“For many riders, seeing security practices in place may make them feel more comfortable,” Incorvati continues. “Today, every transit bus has a camera on, but there was a time when a lot of them didn’t. Now a days, if the video system's not working, they may not want to even take the bus out.”

Incorvati emphasizes that there is no shortage of cameras or video surveillance technology, and the industry continues to expand. However, the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are significantly enhancing the capabilities of these systems.

For many riders, seeing security practices in place may make them feel more comfortable. Today, every transit bus has a camera on, but there was a time when a lot of them didn’t. Now a days, if the video system's not working, they may not want to even take the bus out.”

By integrating AI with video surveillance, these technologies are transforming security monitoring. For example, large transit agencies can often have more 10,000 cameras — an overwhelming number to monitor manually. AI-powered surveillance can help manage the network more efficiently by detecting anomalies, identifying potential threats like weapons, tracking individuals, and recognizing unusual behavior.

“Additionally, AI can flag unauthorized access to restricted areas, such as train yards and depots, which are off-limits to passengers,” Incorvati adds. “While stations are the primary areas where passengers move through, transit systems also have critical infrastructure that requires monitoring to ensure safety and security.”

An evolving approach

In an ever evolving threat landscape, threats are always changing and so the ways security professionals handle those challenges must also evolve.

Bohnenberger comments that instances of high-profiles violent crime – such as people being pushed from platforms – are often the results of erratic mental health issues. Which is why it is important for personnel to be properly trained and able to recognize signs of mental illness, drug additions, and know how to interact with those types of individuals.

“These instances aren’t happening everywhere or every day and they get a lot of news coverage because they are dramatic, but they are a safety issue,” he says. “Through de-escalation techniques and so on, it's really been interesting to see the industry stepping up to make sure that our people are better equipped and therefore are better resources for our law enforcement partners.”

“The more likely thing that our folks see ‘regular crime’, the regular types of things you would see in any public space,” Bohnenberger says.

Sense of community

Training is not only important for security professionals to learn how to properly handle situations, but also for their own physical and mental wellbeing.

“The job can be really draining as well, from a burnout perspective, it is the closest thing to being a public safety official that you could be and not be a law enforcement officer or first responder. You are out in the public, interacting with the public very frequently, if not every minute of every day. You have to be on your game and it's physically challenging.”

Regular and consistent safety training, equipping the personnel properly with the right equipment all work together to ensure they operate safely.

Public transportation is integral to modern communities and many people don’t stop to consider the impact of the bus they see passing by, Bohnenberger says.

"But for a nurse heading home after a midnight shift or a restaurant worker catching a late-night train, it makes a world of difference,” he says. “The fabric of a community can often be bound together by people's ability to move — their ability to get to economic opportunities, to doctor's appointments or to school. And I think it is incumbent on us to give them a safe and secure method to do that.”

As security leaders in the public transportation industry continue to navigate evolving challenges, one thing remains clear: safety is fundamental to ridership, community trust, and overall system success. Through a combination of technology, strategic partnerships, and well-trained personnel, transit agencies are adapting to new threats while maintaining accessibility and efficiency.

Ultimately, ensuring security in the public transportation space relies on a balance of innovation, vigilance, and community engagement, ensuring that these essential services remain safe and secure to all those who rely on them.