DHS awards $141 million in transit security grants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)awarded $141 million in transit security grants on Tuesday. Transit Security Grant Program totals included $107,900,000 for rail transit systems, $22,357,076 for intra-city bus systems and $5,000,000 for ferry systems. The DHS also granted $6,373,730 to Amtrak for security enhancements to intercity passenger rail operations in the Northeast Corridor and at Amtrak's hub in Chicago. The New York region recieved the highest allotment, with $42 million to be shared by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority, New Jersey Transit and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The funding is earmarked for detection of explosive devices and chemical or biological agents. On the West coast, $7 million was apportioned to the California Bay Area to be split among four systems. San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) officials said that they have identified $196 million in security needs, and the funding is inadequate, reported The San Francisco Chronicle. "Even if we got the whole $7 million, it wouldn't put a dent in our needs," BART Director Lynette Sweet told the paper.