Transit Cooperative Research Program Sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration RESEARCH RESULTS DIGEST July 1996--Number 9 Subject Area: VI Public Transit Responsible Senior Program Officer: Christopher W. Jenks Responding to Vandalism of Transit Bus and Rail Vehicle Passenger Windows This TCRP digest provides a summary of findings from TCRP Project C-4, "Enhancement of Vehicle Window Glazing for Vandal Resistance and Durability," conducted by the University of Dayton Research Institute. Included in the digest are brief descriptions of current and emerging methods available to address the passenger window vandalism problem. INTRODUCTION surveillance, and other technologies. Service life and maintenance issues are a function of the procured Transit vehicle windows have become high system and the operating environment. Strategies to profile items because of problems with vandalism improve service life and reduce maintenance and related maintenance. Whereas the window used problems have implications for new procurements in to last the life of the vehicle or was changed-out only terms of specifications for durable, relatively trouble- on that rare occasion when it was chipped or broken, free, vandalism-resistant technologies. it has now become a consumable item requiring Under TCRP Project C-4, research was frequent change-outs, considerable maintenance undertaken by the University of Dayton Research resources, and the logistics of maintaining an Institute to (1) compile information on transit bus and inventory of spares. In New York City alone, the rail vehicle window vandalism and current and MTA New York City Transit reports that properly emerging window glazing technologies with potential maintaining vandal-etched bus and rail windows applicability to the transit industry and (2) develop costs $60-70 million annually. In addition, surveys guidelines to assist transit agencies in the preparation indicate that the cost of vandalism for mass transit is of procurement specifications related to transit bus increasing by 11 percent per year, which means that and rail vehicle passenger windows. it is doubling every 6.5 years. This rise in vandalism Three documents were produced from the has caused many transit agencies to rethink windows project: (1) TCRP Report 15, "Procurement and window issues. Vandal resistance and quick Specification Guidelines for Mass Transit Vehicle change-out of the windows are becoming high Window Glazing," prepared for transit maintenance priorities to transit agencies with vandalism and procurement specialists concerned with the problems. development of specifications for the purchase of There are essentially three ways to attack the durable and vandal-resistant bus or rail vehicle vandalism problem: (1) the development of repair passenger windows and window systems; (2) an techniques for the current system, (2) material unpublished final report, "Enhancement of Window solutions to the problem, i.e., materials or material Glazing for Vandal Resistance and Durability," systems that provide resistance to vandalism, and (3) which provides the details of extensive surveys prevention. Prevention includes police/security, conducted during the project of domestic and foreign maintenance, and operator involvement, as well as transit systems, window transit authority policies, punishment, legislation, _________________________ TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 2 system manufacturers and suppliers transportation systems vehicles like afford to spend the "one dollar required serving transit and other industries, railroad cars and semi trailers. Since a to save one hundred dollars." transit vehicle manufacturers, and desire for recognition is inherent in the There are two distinct groups that vandalism and graffiti experts; and (3) act of vandalism, permanence of the have minimal or no problems with this Research Results Digest, which graffiti or other damage is of prime window vandalism. The first group is provides a brief summary for transit importance. Glass and plastic windows, located in areas where the "fad" has not managers of the information contained enclosures, and mirrors provide durable become popular. The second group is in the final report. Copies of TCRP canvases for the "artwork." Windows in in areas where, though graffiti and Report 15 and the project final report particular (they cannot be repainted, are vandalism are high, anti-graffiti are available through the TCRP, 2101 not easily resurfaced in situ, and are measures (maintenance, security, and Constitution Avenue, N.W., costly to replace) invite graffiti. driver practices) discourage and control Washington, DC 20418. Vandals use a number of objects it. Also, there is a variation in severity to scratch, scribe, etch, cut, scuff, or of the vandalism problem within a VANDALISM AND GRAFFITI deface transparent materials, and given agency between the various ground transportation vehicles sustain modes of transit. Commuter rail Vandalism has become damage ranging from breakage of the systems are often relatively free of increasingly present and visible in the window panels to scratches and scuffs damage, while other modes of transit in public sector over the past 35 years. to elaborate drawings or messages. the same area are not. This is often Graffiti is the main form of defacement These messages may be written in strictly a function of the ridership. to publicly owned property. The English or encrypted with special Commuters tend to be older, more national cost of property removal and characters that are intelligible only to responsible citizens. The other transit replacement due to vandalism and persons "in the know." These groups modes which carry school-age children graffiti exceeded 7 billion dollars in have underground publications that and young adults are more likely to 1994; more than 1 billion dollars was encourage, interpret, and teach this sustain damage. Buses and trolleys are spent to remedy glass etching. vandalism. The Internet is also being easy targets for vandals because stops Over the past 3 years, vandalism used to spread information on the best are frequent and security is less than on in the form of scratching, scribing, and places to "hit" and the tools to use. other transit modes. etching windows has become a Some prestigious universities even problem for most transit authorities; for offer courses in "Graffiti Art." TRANSIT WINDOW some it has grown to epic proportions. Vandalism of windows in ground MAINTENANCE AND Unlike spray paint and marker graffiti, transportation vehicles was ENGINEERING ISSUES window scratching and etching cause concentrated mostly in large permanent damage and cannot be metropolitan areas, but now has spread Window system issues dealing cleaned with a solvent or repainted. to smaller cities nationwide. with graffiti include the need for easily Glass window etching and scratching procured replacements and easy can compromise the structural integrity RESULTS OF TRANSIT SURVEY maintenance, especially quick change- of the window, reducing its resistance out of windows. Transit maintenance to impact and increasing the potential Problems with durability and staffs, already overburdened with spare for passenger injury. vandalism/etching of the windows vary vehicle shortages and the work required In this project, vandalism and widely among the transit systems. to keep vehicles fueled and operating, graffiti are considered in several forms. Some transit systems describe the have little time remaining to take on These include defacement, "artwork," condition of their windows as a disaster special tasks like window maintenance messages, and tagging. The last three with a very high percentage currently and change-out. Prior to the surge in contain elements of self- etched or damaged and a very high graffiti problems of the past few years, recognition/public recognition. Targets graffiti/ vandalism/etching rate (in windows were changed only when they for vandalism have included exterior terms of incidents per day or week). "wore out." Many window designs are structures such as signs, buildings, Some systems report almost no not conducive to maintenance and walls, and bridges; interior structures problems. Overall, problems with quick change-out. Curved window such as malls, elevators, and escalators; window etching are increasing panes, while aesthetically pleasing, elements of the public transportation throughout the transit community. Of have a number of inherent system such as buses and light rail the systems with major problems, some disadvantages including increased cost transport systems; and other realize what should be done to fix the and limited procurement sources. Flat problems, but cannot windows,on These Digests are issued in the interest of providing an early awareness of the research results emanating from projects in the TCRP. By making these results known as they are developed, it is hoped that the potential users of the research findings will be encouraged toward their early implementation. Persons wanting to pursue the project subject matter in greater depth may do so through contact with the Cooperative Research Programs Staff, Transportation Research Board, 2101 Constitution Ave, N.W., Washington, DC 20418. 3 the other hand, are less expensive, are when broken). Acrylic is subject to returned to the transit authority. There widely available, and can be changed hazing and crazing, it burns, and it are a number of logistical relatively easily between window