By Ron Thaniel
May 10, 2004

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee approved May 6 the bipartisan Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act. The measure authorizes $5.2 billion in funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the creation of a grant program for rail and mass'transit security. Many Conference of Mayors transit security recommendations are included in the committee-passed version.

The Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act would create a DHS needs'based grant to identify risks and vulnerabilities within transit systems nationally. DHS would then be required to develop strategies for alleviating those risks and create a framework for government agency coordination.

The measure provides $3.5 billion for a capital grant program to secure infrastructure such as surveillance, fencing, redundant'systems equipment, communications and tracking equipment and detection systems for chemical, biological, radiological and explosive agents.

In addition, $800 million was granted in 2005, $500 million in 2006 and $200 million in 2007 for workforce training, public awareness campaigns, canine patrols and costs associated with events of national or international importance.

The Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act would also provide $200 million in research grants to study chemical, biological, radiological or explosive detection technologies, imaging technologies, and others that may have the potential to be effective in deterring terrorist attacks.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on April 8 approved (S. 2273) The Rail Security Act of 2004, which authorizes more than $1 billion in rail security improvements. The measures includes $679 million to complete Amtrak security and safety upgrades to its Washington (DC), Baltimore and New York City tunnels. Upgrades would include fire and life'safety improvements, ventilation, electrical, emergency communications and lighting systems. The bill would authorize $63 million for other Amtrak security upgrades and $250 million for other rail security needs.

Action on transit and rail security comes on the heels of the March 11 commuter train bombings in Spain and advisories from DHS that transit systems in the United States could possibly target.