2025 MOW Spending Report: Passenger-rail programs
Gardner steps down as Amtrak CEO
Guest comment: Oliver Wyman’s David Hunt
Women of Influence in Rail eBook
Newsletter Sign Up
Stay updated on news, articles and information for the rail industry
Stay updated on news, articles and information for the rail industry
railPrime
RAIL EMPLOYMENT & NOTICES
Rail News Home
Rail Industry Trends
Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
Last week’s terrorist attacks on the London transit system might not have been deadly as the July 7 attacks, but they have transit officials just as concerned.
"[The] attacks show the determination of terrorists," said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William Millar in a prepared statement. "Our national leaders … need to show even more determination to protect America’s transit riders. Unfortunately, the federal government has not chosen to make public transportation security a priority."
Early last week, the Senate defeated legislation that would have provided $1.16 billion in transit security funding in FY2006. Instead, they voted to provide only $100 million for transit security in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. The House voted to provide $150 million.
A survey conducted by APTA last year determined that U.S. transit agencies need $6 billion to improve security. When the federal government raises the security alert to "orange," it costs transit systems $900,000 daily for the increased police presence, security checks, canine patrols and ridership alerts, according to APTA.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the government has provided $18.1 billion for the aviation industry but only $250 million for the public transit industry.
"Public transit has been a target around the world for 25 years," said Millar. "How many attacks will it take before Congress and the Department of Homeland Security decide that transit security is as important a priority as aviation security?"
7/25/2005
Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
Federal government needs to provide additional transit security funding, APTA says
advertisement
Last week’s terrorist attacks on the London transit system might not have been deadly as the July 7 attacks, but they have transit officials just as concerned.
"[The] attacks show the determination of terrorists," said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William Millar in a prepared statement. "Our national leaders … need to show even more determination to protect America’s transit riders. Unfortunately, the federal government has not chosen to make public transportation security a priority."
Early last week, the Senate defeated legislation that would have provided $1.16 billion in transit security funding in FY2006. Instead, they voted to provide only $100 million for transit security in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. The House voted to provide $150 million.
A survey conducted by APTA last year determined that U.S. transit agencies need $6 billion to improve security. When the federal government raises the security alert to "orange," it costs transit systems $900,000 daily for the increased police presence, security checks, canine patrols and ridership alerts, according to APTA.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the government has provided $18.1 billion for the aviation industry but only $250 million for the public transit industry.
"Public transit has been a target around the world for 25 years," said Millar. "How many attacks will it take before Congress and the Department of Homeland Security decide that transit security is as important a priority as aviation security?"
