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June 8, 2004
The Honorable Thad Cochran
Chairman
Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Senate Committee on Appropriations
135 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6025
Dear Chairman Cochran:
On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and
its 1,500 member organizations, I write to express concern about the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) Passenger Rail Security Directives that took effect
on May 23, 2004, and the need for increased federal investment in transit
security.
Our industry is fully committed to safety and security as its highest priority,
and we have endeavored to work closely with DHS on critical security issues.
Following an initial meeting we had with the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) to discuss rail security, it was our understanding that we would have
further opportunity to comment on draft proposals or directives before their
release. Unfortunately, this was not the case. We cannot emphasize enough
how important it is that we establish a more collaborative working relationship
with the DHS, and seek your Committee's support in that regard.
The Security Directives will require protective measures to be implemented
by passenger rail operators without providing any federal resources for transit
authorities to implement them. The measures instruct commuter, transit and
inter-city passenger rail systems to comply with requirements that range from
removing or replacing station trash cans to utilizing canine explosives detection
teams to increasing personnel. At a time when transit systems are experiencing
the impacts of the economic downturn, new mandates such as these need to be
supported with federal government resources. In the most recent year for which
data are available, 2002, total transit capital and operating expenditures
amounted to $39.5 billion; in fiscal year 2002 the federal government provided
$6.5 billion for public transit. In short, the federal government provided
17% of total transit funding, while state and local governments and transit
riders provided 83%. Simply put, public transportation systems cannot independently
shoulder the responsibility to pay for these mandated security measures on
their own.
In addition, other measures are needed to protect America's public transportation
systems. In a recent industry survey, APTA identified $6 billion in transit
security needs. Over $1.7 billion has been spent on security measures by transit
authorities since 9/11 from their own financial resources. We ask that the
nation's millions of public transportation riders receive the same consideration
as airline passengers. There is no funding (line item) in the Administration's
FY05 budget for transit security, while there is $5.3 billion for aviation
security. However, 16 times more Americans ride on public transportation each
day than on domestic airlines.
As outlined in the written testimony on the FY 2005 Homeland
Security budget APTA presented to the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, we
respectfully request $2 billion for transit security in the FY 2005 Homeland
Security Appropriations bill to address critical public transportation security
needs. Should you have any questions about this matter, please have your staff
contact Tom Yedinak at 202-496-4865 or tyedinak@apta.com.
Sincerely yours,
William W. Millar
President
WWM/amm
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