The Department of ­Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced the final allocations for seven preparedness grant programs for FY 2013, including the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), which provides funds to protect critical surface transportation, safeguard riders from acts of terrorism, and strengthen the resilience of public transit infrastructure.

Nineteen public transit systems received TSGP funds totaling more than $83.7 million. The five largest grants for FY 2013 follow: New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, $22.5 million; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid ­Transit, $12.8 million; New Jersey Transit, $8.1 mil­lion; Chicago Transit Authority, $7.2 million; and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, $7 million. In addition, Amtrak received $9.4 million through the Intercity ­Passenger Rail program.

The final DHS allocations total more than $1.5 billion and are aimed at helping states, urban areas, tribal and territorial governments, non-profit agencies, and the private sector prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. The FY 2013 grants focus on the nation’s highest risk areas, including urban areas that face the most significant threats. Final allocations reflect sequestration-mandated cuts of $74 million.

For more information, ­including a complete list of the ­public ­transit ­agencies that received funds, click here.