October 25, 2006
The Honorable Michael Chertoff
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
3801 Nebraska Avenue Center, NW
Washington, DC 20528
Dear Secretary Chertoff:
On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and its 1,500 member organizations, we urge you to increase federal support for transit security funding in the Administration's Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 budget proposal for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). APTA urges you to support an FY 2008 level for transit security of $545 million, which would help to address identified transit security needs of some $6 billion. Annual funding at this level would support dramatic improvements in security for the nation's transit users over the next 10 years.
In addition, we separately request $500,000 for DHS grant funding for development of transit security standards program, and $600,000 to maintain and operate the Public Transit Information Sharing Analysis Center (ISAC). These are two important national efforts that could significantly enhance transit security at the local level.
Safety and security are an important priority for the public transportation industry. Transit systems have taken many steps to improve security prior to 9/11, with minimal federal funding. Since September 11, 2001, public transit agencies in the United States have spent more than $2 billion for security and emergency preparedness and related technology. Recent terrorist acts in Mumbai, London and Madrid make clear the need to strengthen security on U.S. public transit systems. We must act to prevent an occurrence of such terrorist attacks in this country.
While transit agencies have worked diligently to improve the security of their systems since September 11, 2001, there remain critical unfunded investment needs in securing transit systems against acts of terrorism. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that obtaining sufficient funding was the most significant challenge in making transit systems as safe and secure as possible. The GAO visited 10 transit properties of varying sizes and characteristics, and surveyed 200 of the 6,000 transit operators of the nation. At just eight of the transit systems that had completed security assessments and reviewed procedures, equipment and personnel, the cost to upgrade system security to appropriate levels was estimated at $700 million.
In 2004 APTA surveyed U.S. transit systems to determine what actions they needed to take to improve security for their customers, employees and facilities. In response to the survey, transit agencies around the country identified more than $6 billion in transit security needs. State and local government, and transit agencies are doing what they can to improve security, but additional federal support is needed in the effort to improve security for the nation's millions of transit users.
We appreciate your support in providing financial resources for the security of our country's public transportation infrastructure. We look forward to working with DHS on transit security issues in the coming months. Please have your staff contact Tom Yedinak of APTA's Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4865 or email tyedinak@apta.com if you have any questions about this matter or if we can provide any further information
Sincerely yours,
William W. Millar
President
WWM/tjj
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