APTA President Highlights $6 Billion in
Security Needs
TRANSIT NEWS
June 22, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com or Donna Aggazio
(202) 496-4884 daggazio@apta.com.
(Download
In Adobe PDF Format)
In testimony today before the Highways, Transit and Pipelines
Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the
American Public Transportation Association (APTA) urged Congress to fund an
identified $6 billion need in critical security actions to keep the millions
of Americans who use public transportation systems safe.
"We do not need another wake up call like Madrid," said APTA President
William W. Millar. "What we need is significant federal funding from
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to upgrade public transportation
security."
Safety and security are the top priorities of the public transportation industry.
From September 11, 2001 through the end of 2003, public transportation agencies
invested $1.7 billion from their own budgets on security and emergency preparedness
programs and technology, developed in concert with the Federal Transit Administration.
Some of these initiatives include:
- Increased surveillance via closed circuit TV.
- Increased training for employees.
- Hired more police, K-9 units added.
- Chemical detection systems being tested.
- Infrastructure design to eliminate hiding places.
- Drills are routinely held with other first responders.
- Encouraging riders to be vigilant for suspicious activities or items.
"Americans use public transportation 32 million times a day, compared
to less than 2 million daily passengers on the nation's commercial air travel
system," said APTA President Millar. "To date, the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security has allocated a total of $115 million to 30 of the nation's
6,000 transit systems for security compared to over $12 billion allocated
to protect the nation's air system."
To address the unmet one-time and annual security needs that the public transportation
industry has identified, APTA urged Congress in written testimony to both
the House and Senate Subcommittees on Homeland Security Appropriations earlier
this year to provide $2 billion in direct funding to transit systems in the
Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Today's request asks
Congress to fund transit security needs through authorizing legislation for
a total of $6 billion over three years.
APTA's survey on public transportation security identified needs of at least
$5.2 billion in additional capital funding to maintain, modernize, and expand
transit system security functions to meet increased security demands. Over
$800 million annually in increased operating costs for security personnel,
training, technical support, and research and development have been identified,
bringing transit security funding needs to $6 billion.
To view a copy of the APTA survey which details transit security needs, visit
www.apta.com.
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APTA is a nonprofit international association of more
than 1,500 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. Over ninety percent of persons
using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by
APTA members.
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