House lawmakers target billions for public transportation security

House lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday that would pump billions into public transportation security and require greater cooperation between the Homeland Security and Transportation departments.

The Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention and Response Act of 2004 would provide $3.5 billion in federal grants over three years to public transportation agencies and bus operators for security improvements. The bill was introduced by members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, and ranking member James Oberstar, D-Minn.

"We cannot allow ourselves to be less than prepared for future terrorist attacks on systems that carry millions of Americans each day," lawmakers said in a statement.

The Senate Banking Committee approved its version of the bill in May. The legislation would require DHS and Transportation to define and clarify their respective public transportation security roles.

"There is not an effective working relationship between DHS, [Transportation] and the transit community," the lawmakers said. "DHS does not understand how transit systems are managed or funded, and has not worked with the transit industry in setting security standards or administering grants."

The bill would also require the Federal Transit Administration to give DHS all public transportation security assessments, after which DHS and Transportation would review and modify those assessments. Additionally, DHS would be responsible for ensuring that Transportation receives appropriate and timely notification of all credible terrorist threats against public transportation assets.

The lawmakers said the bill addresses problems and recommendations identified by the 9/11 commission. For example, lawmakers noted that the federal government spends about $9.16 per traveler for aviation security, but only $115 million has been appropriated for transit security over the past two years, or 0.6 cent per passenger. Transit systems, however, move 14 million passengers a day, which is almost eight times as many as the U.S. aviation system, which carries 1.8 million air travelers daily.

"One of the most pressing problems is that not enough is being invested in improving public transportation security," said Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis., chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.

According to the bill, federal grants for transit security would be dispersed strictly based on risks and vulnerabilities, which was also a recommendation of the 9/11 commission. For transit authorities, grants can cover up to 80 percent of security costs for items such as explosive and chemical detection systems, surveillance systems, communications and emergency response equipment, and evacuation improvements. Grants can also include up to 50 percent of operations costs for items such as security training, drills, canine patrols and overtime reimbursement.

For bus operators, grants can take in up to 80 percent of security costs.

The American Public Transportation Association announced its support of the legislation Wednesday, but noted that up to $6 billion in long-term, anti-terrorism funding is needed.

"While today's announcement is an important step to keep public transportation systems safe, we urge that the strategic and forward-looking plan for public transportation security, called for by the 9/11 commission report, directly reflect the $6 billion in critical needs identified by APTA earlier this year," said the organization's president, William Millar.

According to APTA, authorities need at least $5.2 billion in one-time capital funding to maintain, modernize and expand transit system security to meet increased security and passenger demands. More than $800 million annually is also needed to address higher operating costs for security personnel, training, technical support, and research and development.

Since 9/11, public transportation organizations have invested $1.7 billion from their own budgets on security and emergency preparedness programs and technology, APTA said.