Transportation

Risks to critical transportation infrastructure include natural disasters as well as manmade physical and cyber threats. Manmade threats include terrorism, vandalism, theft, technological failures, and accidents. Cyber threats to the Sector are of concern because of the growing reliance on cyber-based control, navigation, tracking, positioning, and communications systems, as well as the ease with which malicious actors can exploit cyber systems serving transportation.

The condition of many nations’ transportation infrastructure is a particular concern because of the advanced age and deterioration of many structures throughout the transportation network. Aging infrastructure threatens the resilience of these systems and can multiply risks from other factors (such as manmade or natural disasters).

The effects of a natural disaster, for example, can be much worse when combined with aging infrastructure. The impact of a loss of a key node or asset, such as a bridge, poses an immediate threat to users and can have cascading impacts on passenger and freight movement, as well as potentially large-scale impacts (such as supply chain disruption).