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In response to reports that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had planned to attack U.S. commuter-rail systems, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William Millar called on Congress to increase transit security funding.

Millar called the federal government’s current level of funding “out of step with terrorist threats,” and noted Congress’ action in April to cut $50 billion from transit security in fiscal-year 2011.

“The threat to public transportation still clearly exists and the federal government needs to step up to the plate and adequately fund our nation’s public transportation security needs,” Millar said in a prepared statement.

Based on an APTA survey released last year, U.S. public transportation systems will need $6.4 billion over five years to adequately cover the cost of security, Millar said.

“A strong partnership with the federal government, that includes adequate security investment, is essential to make sure that the millions of people who use public transportation are as safe and secure as practical,” he said. “As I have said many times before, we don’t need another wake-up call.”

Millar’s statement followed the decision by numerous U.S. transit systems to beef up security after bin Laden was captured and killed by a team of U.S. Navy Seals during a raid in Pakistan.