The Mineta Transportation Institute has released the Bus Operator Awareness Research and Development Training Program. It is available for download at the institute’s website.

The Transportation Security Administration worked in cooperation with the National Transportation Security Center of Excellence, managed through the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security, to develop this course. Through the intensive efforts of four universities and two federal agencies, the team conducted extensive research, both nationally and abroad, to identify appropriate countermeasures and related skill sets for bus operators relative to identifying suspicious and dangerous activity and reacting appropriately with a focus on life safety concerns.

The purpose of the training program is to help enhance the abilities of bus operators to:

* Quickly and effectively evaluate suspicious and dangerous activities;
* Take actions to protect themselves and their passengers; and
* Provide timely and accurate information to law enforcement through their control center.

The program includes both text in PDF format and a Power Point presentation.