Transit Systems Around The Country Remain Vigilant -- Orange Alerts Cost At Least $900,000 A Day

Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com

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"The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) sends its support to the people of London," said APTA President William W. Millar. "Thankfully, yesterday's incidents were not a successful repeat of the July 7 attacks."

"Transit systems around the country remain vigilant, taking all necessary security actions to protect the millions of people who use public transportation every day," said Millar, noting that this includes increased police presence, security sweeps, canine patrols, and ridership alerts. "Every day on Orange Alert costs transit systems at least $900,000 a day."

"National security is the responsibility of the federal government. This responsibility goes beyond mandating a national alert level," said Millar. "It is the federal government's responsibility to bear the cost of a federally mandated Orange Alert to safeguard our nation's transit riders."

Last year a survey conducted by APTA revealed that U.S. transit agencies need $6 billion to improve transit security; this figure does not include the cost for maintaining Orange Alert security. Just last week the Senate narrowly defeated legislation to fund transit security at $1.16 billion in FY 06 and instead voted to provide only $100 million for transit security in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill. Earlier the House voted to provide $150 million for transit security. A conference committee will meet to ultimately determine the amount of money that DHS will provide for transit security in FY 06.

"Public transportation has been a target around the world for 25 years," continued Millar. "How many attacks will it take - successful or failed - before Congress and the Department of Homeland Security decide that transit security is as important a priority as aviation security?"

Despite the fact that 32 million times a day people take public transportation - a figure that is 16 times more than travel on domestic airlines -- the aviation industry has received $18.1 billion from DHS in the period from 9/11 through May 31, 2005, while the public transportation industry has only been allotted $250 million from DHS in the same period.

"Yesterday's attacks show the determination of terrorists," said Millar. "Our national leaders in the legislative and executive branches need to show even more determination to protect America's transit riders. Unfortunately, the federal government has not chosen to make public transportation security a priority. The determination to protect the lives of American transit riders seems to be lacking among our nation's leaders."

"I call on our national leaders to do the right thing and act quickly so that the millions of Americans who ride public transportation can be better protected," concluded Millar. "At this point, with the attacks in London over the past two weeks, there is simply no excuse for a lack of action."

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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.