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Washington, D.C. -- The House today passed a Department of Homeland Security appropriations conference report that includes a $25 million increase in rail and transit security funding sponsored by Representative Rush Holt (NJ-12). While pleased with the increase, Holt said far more needed to be done to make America’s trains and bus systems more secure.
“I’m glad we’ve broken the cycle of flat-funding rail and transit security,” said Holt. “However, this increase should be viewed as a down payment on our rail and transit security needs. The attacks in Madrid, London, and Mumbai were deadly reminders of the need to better protect people who ride trains, buses and ferries.”
Since September 11, 2001, the Department of Homeland Security has spent nearly $20 billion on aviation security but only $400 million on transit security. Yet, every day, people ride trains and buses a total of 32 million times -- more than sixteen times the number of daily travelers on the nation’s airlines. More than 9.7 billion trips are taken on trains and buses each year.
In New Jersey alone, NJ Transit — the third largest statewide transit agency — has stated that it has only 220 police officers to protect 400,000 customers per day (265,000 bus and 135,000 rail), 10,500 employees at multiple locations, 800 trains on more than 1,000 miles of track, 161 rail stations, and 49 light rail stations. Additionally, these same officers must protect and secure more than 2,000 buses that use more than 20,800 bus stops.
The Holt-sponsored transit security funding increase will help pay for badly needed interoperable communication systems; camera systems; employee identification; improved lighting, fencing and secured gates; chemical/biological/radiological detection sensors; bomb sniffing dogs; and many other needed security improvements.
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