advertisement

---

In the wake of yesterday morning’s bombings on the London Underground subway system and a city bus that killed dozens and injured hundreds, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has called on Congress and the Bush Administration to “dramatically increase funding” for U.S. transit security needs.

“The federal government’s funding of transit security has been woefully inadequate since 9/11,” said APTA President Bill Millar in his weekly letter to APTA members, adding that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill is scheduled to hit the Senate floor next week. “The U.S. public transportation system has received only $250 million in federal funding. By contrast, the aviation industry has received $18.1 billion. Additionally, public transit systems have spent more than $2 billion on security from their own budgets.”

Yesterday, DHS raised the mass transportation threat level from yellow (elevated) to orange (high). The threat level advisory applies to subways, regional and intercity rail lines, and bus systems. Department officials recommend the nation’s major transit systems “increase vigilance” and implement “additional security measures.”