News Release
July 10, 2006
(Download In Adobe PDF Format)
Statement by
American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William W. Millar
"The announcement that a terrorist attack on New York area transit systems was averted clearly underlines the importance of adequately providing security funding for the billions of Americans who ride public transportation each year. This week, when the U.S. Senate considers H.R. 5441, the FY 2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, it will have the opportunity to significantly increase transit security funding.
Coming on the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on the London Underground, the announcement about a foiled terrorist plot should be a clear signal to the U.S. Senate that they need to significantly increase transit funding in next year's budget. Terrorism is not going away. According to a 2002 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office 'about one-third of terrorist attacks worldwide target transportation systems, and transit systems are the mode most commonly attacked.'
APTA members identified $6 billion in transit security needs more than two years ago. Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. public transit industry has spent more than $2 billion on security measures, but the federal government has only allocated $386 million towards transit security. In contrast, the aviation industry has received more than $20 billion for aviation security during the same time period.
Considering that 32 million times a day Americans take public transportation and that is 16 times more than domestic airlines trips, the lack of adequate funding for transit security is jarring and inexcusable.
Transit is one of our nation's critical infrastructures and is an important part of national security, which is the responsibility of the federal government. Today, APTA calls on the Senate to make the security of America's transit riders a priority and to significantly increase transit security funding. The time for action is now."
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APTA is a nonprofit international association of 1,600 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. APTA members serve more than 90 percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada.
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