APTA President William W. Millar Applauds 'Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act' -- U.S. Senate Bill Authorizes $5.2 Billion over Three Years for Transit Security Needs

Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com
or Donna Aggazio (202) 496-4884 daggazio@apta.com.

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"The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) applauds today's mark-up by the Senate Banking Committee of the Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The bill, passed unanimously, would authorize $5.2 billion for funding of transit security initiatives directly to public transportation systems beginning in Fiscal Year 2005.

If passed by Congress, "The Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004" would provide critical financial capital and operating resources to keep our nation's public transportation systems secure. APTA is grateful for the strong leadership shown by Senate Banking Committee Chair Richard C. Shelby (R-AL), Ranking Member Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD), Senators Wayne Allard (R-CO), Jack Reed (D-RI) and the full committee in addressing the security requirements of America's public transportation systems.

32 million times each day, Americans take public transportation. Today's mark-up is the right direction for Congress to take to support a secure environment for public transportation's tens of millions of riders.

The bill also coincides with the release of an APTA security survey of public transportation systems that identified $6 billion in critical security needs for public transportation. The survey demonstrates security needs of at least $5.2 billion in capital funding to maintain, modernize, and expand transit system security functions to meet increased security demands. In addition, 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." The APTA security survey is available at 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.