When Terrorists Attack Transit

The city of New York responded to Tuesday terror attacks in Brussels by increasing security a frequent target of terrorists: transit stations.

1 minute read

March 23, 2016, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


After the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, New York transit officials "said there’s a reason why the terrorists in Belgium chose an airport and a subway station as targets," according to an article by Dan Rubinstein.

Polly Trottenberg, New York City transportation commissioner, and Tom Prendergast, chairman of the MTA, agreed about the additional threat of terrorist attacks at transit hubs. Trottenberg is quoted directly: "Transportation facilities very tragically are often targets for terrorism…They’re where a lot of people are congregating. They tend to be open. They make targets."

The city of New York responded to the Brussels attacks, two at an airport and one at a subway station, with increased security by the National Guard and the New York Police Department at "Penn and Grand Central stations, JFK and LaGuardia airports, bridges, tunnels, PATH and the Port Authority Bus Terminal," reports Rubinstein.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 in Politico New York

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

July 6 - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6 - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine