2009 APTA - TRB Light Rail Conference Issue
 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency announced $388.6 million in Fiscal Year 2009 allocations for the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) on April 8. This amount is part of nearly $970 million allocated for 10 federal grant programs, which will go to assist state, local, and tribal governments and private industry for efforts to strengthen community preparedness.

From 2003 through 2009, FEMA will have provided more than $26.7 billion to strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent, protect, respond, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, or other emergencies. The FY 2009 Preparedness Grants will focus on improving strategic planning and preparedness and measuring performance.

“Today’s grant allocations provide more transparency and openness than ever before, as stakeholder feedback drove significant improvements in the grant guidance and peer review process, increasing the value of what states get with their dollars,” said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “As we continue to expand our state, local, tribal, and private-sector partnerships, our combined efforts will improve and hone our grant programs—which helps us strengthen and protect individual communities and the entire nation.”

The TSGP allocation to protect critical transit infrastructure from terrorism includes:

* Intercity Bus Security Grant Program.  $11.7 million to assist operators of fixed-route intercity and charter bus services to support security plans, facility security upgrades, and vehicle and driver protection.

* Freight Rail Security Grant Program.  $15 million to target resources for security plans, vulnerability assessments, employee security awareness training, and GPS tracking systems for railroad cars transporting toxic inhalation materials.

* Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak).  $25 million for Amtrak to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters, and other emergencies within the Amtrak rail system.

Further information on preparedness grant programs is available at these links.

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