APTA Testimony Highlights Critical Needs in Security Funding for U.S. Public Transportation

5/5/2004

From: Donna Aggazio of the American Public Transportation Association, 202-496-4884 or daggazio@apta.com

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- In testimony today before the Subcommittee on Railroads of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) highlighted an identified $6 billion in critical security needs to keep America's public transportation systems safe. APTA called on Congress to provide $2 billion for transit security in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Fiscal Year 2005 budget.

"32 million times each day, Americans take public transportation, compared to the 2 million daily passengers who use the nation's commercial air travel system," said APTA Vice President for Government Affairs Daniel Duff. "The federal government needs to do more to support a secure environment for public transportation's tens of millions of riders."

APTA's recently completed 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.

Priority examples of immediate transit security capital investment needs include:

-- Radio communication systems.

-- Security camera on-board transit vehicles and in transit stations.

-- Controlling access to transit facilities and secure areas.

-- Automated vehicle locator systems.

Priority examples of important transit operations security needs include:

-- Current and additional transit agency and local law enforcement personnel.

-- Over-time costs and extra security personnel during heightened alert levels.

-- Training for security personnel.

-- Security planning activities.

-- Security training for other transit personnel.

Safety and security are the top priorities of the public transportation industry. Since September 11, 2001, through the end of 2003, public transportation agencies have invested an estimated $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.

"To date, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has provided transit systems with a total of $115 million for security," said Duff. "To address the one-time and annual security needs that our industry has identified, we urge Congress to provide $2 billion in direct funding to transit systems in the Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill."

The APTA survey provides a perspective on the priorities transit systems place on security that should be supported by federal funding. A sample of 120 U.S. public transportation systems representing a cross section of system sizes and modes from all areas of the country participated in the 2004 APTA survey of security needs and funding priorities.

To view a copy of the APTA survey of transit security needs, visit http://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.