Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

This meant implementing a new level of vigilance for the agency's transit police; a long-term effort to educate riders; partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies; and an increase in special operations security training.

The team is being launched through a $122,000 federal grant and will further the Homeland Security mission in Orange County.

Rail service is conducting more passenger and baggage screenings, increasing the use of K-9 explosive detection teams, and expanding police patrols at stations, on trains, along the tracks and other key rail infrastructure.

NYPD's security strategy includes the use of bomb-sniffing dogs, random bag checks, regular inspections of tunnels and mining for intelligence about potential threats.

When Fenton was fired, the agency released a statement saying it had "concluded that Mr. Fenton violated his trust as a state employee and therefore was dismissed." The ACLU contends that Fenton was exercising his free speech.

During his testimony, APTA President William Millar announced the results of a recent survey of public transit systems that identifies $6.4 billion in security needs and urged Congress to provide at least $1.1 billion in funding for fiscal year 2011 — the level authorized under the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.