FKA, in collaboration with Hidalgo & DeVries, Inc. (HD), supported the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in their collective efforts to enhance the Transit Watch campaign and to expand its application nationwide. This campaign was a follow-up to FKA's successful work on the 2003 Transit Watch public awareness initiative.

During the 2003 initiative, FKA assumed all responsibility for the research and documentation component including creating and executing an in-depth safety and security awareness survey. FKA evaluated the survey data and assembled campaign materials to showcase the participating agencies through a compendium of qualitative and quantitative information entitled Community-Based Safety & Security Information that served as the framework for the campaign.

To provide a “hands-on” mechanism of reaching key stakeholders, FKA developed a directory of related state and local safety and security partners, as well as relevant industry/association partners. Additionally, FKA provided support in implementing a series of focus group meetings across the nation, with transit riders and employees. Following the official 2003 launch, Transit Watch was implemented by numerous transit agencies across the nation and has also been implemented by some Canadian transit agencies.

In terms of 2006 enhancements, FKA developed new collaterals and messaging that reflected current stakeholder insights. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2003 Transit Watch program , a nationwide survey was conducted, resulting in a comprehensive report featuring quantitative and qualitative data, which clearly demonstrated that the campaign is widely used throughout the country.

New research-based collaterals include a universal message focused on unattended baggage, “Look, Listen, Leave” transit evacuation materials, as well as materials for transit agencies to use with local Citizen Corps groups to enhance public participation efforts in safety and security awareness. Most recently, FKA presented Transit Watch to participants of the APTA Marketing and Communications Conference in Phoenix, Arizona and at the APTA Bus and Paratransit Conference in Anaheim, California .

The updated Transit Watch Toolkit and Spanish translation of the original 2003 Transit Watch Toolkit can be downloaded from the FTA website at: