Transit group seeks $6B to bolster transportation security

Todd Weiss   Today’s Top Stories    or  Other Legislation/Regulation Stories  

Sign up to receive Security Resource Alerts

July 14, 2005 (Computerworld) -- With last week's London subway and bus bombings as a backdrop, a nonprofit public transportation industry group is pressuring the Senate to approve a huge increase in spending for transit system security in the U.S. -- from a proposed $100 million allocation for fiscal year 2006 to $6 billion over three years.
In an announcement Monday, the Washington-based American Public Transportation Association (APTA) said that it's asking the Senate to drastically boost transit funding as it considers the 2006 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate Appropriations Committee last month recommended spending $100 million on the nation's public transit systems, a cut of $50 million from the amount allocated last year.
APTA wants $2 billion a year spent in each of the next three years to help the systems undertake needed security improvements to fend off terrorism (see London Attacks Raise Concerns of U.S. Vulnerability).
The money is being sought for a variety of security and technology improvements, including radio systems that will allow transit agencies to talk directly with law enforcement officials during emergencies; onboard security cameras in trains, buses and in transit stations; and identification systems that use biometrics, smart cards and other technologies to control access to transit facilities and secure areas.
Money also is needed, APTA said, for automated vehicle locator systems, improved surveillance systems, intrusion-detection systems for rail tunnels and an increase in law enforcement personnel to patrol transit systems.
Greg Hull, director of operations, safety and security programs for APTA, said the $6 billion request was compiled after a detailed needs assessment was made of transit systems across the country.
"What we're trying to encourage is a greater investment by the Department of Homeland Security for technological advances," Hull said. Some existing technologies used today by defense agencies could be refined and modified with research and development to fit transit agency needs, he said.
Because public transit agencies are open to anyone, they provide greater challenges for security, Hull said. About 32 million trips a day are taken on public transit in the U.S., totaling about 9.6 billion trips annually.
"What that really means is we have a very significant risk exposure," Hull said. The number of people who go through New York's Pennsylvania Station in one hour on a typical weekday morning equals the number of travelers who fly in and out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in two and a half days, according to Hull. "We certainly believe there are technologies out there that could be adapted and developed" to better protect transit passengers in the U.S.
The government hasn't held back on spending for airline safety since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Hull said. Since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the U.S. has provided $18 billion for airline safety, he said.
Last week's terrorist bombings in London, which killed at least 52 people and injured hundreds, have inspired a "flurry of activity" on the Senate floor to try to increase transit spending here, Hull said.
"London was a wake-up call," Hull said. "We don't need any more wake-up calls. What we need is funding."

Print this Story

Send Us Feedback

E-mail this Story

Digg this Story

Slashdot this Story

"What part of "Yahoo doesn't want a thing to do with you" did Ballmer not get? The new lord and..." Read more... "One presidential candidate publishes his views on technology and the other doesn't. But does it really matter?..." Read more... Read more Government & Regulation posts or See all Blogs

DNS hole prompts synchronized patching effort by IT vendors Microsoft plugs nine holes in Windows, DNS, SQL Symantec warns of new Word attack More top stories...

Microsoft sets XP SP3 automatic download for Thursday Don't give Google a free pass on data collection, privacy advocates say after YouTube ruling XP SP3 to reach most users 'shortly,' says Microsoft

This old laptop: Revitalizing an aging notebook on the cheap All it takes is a couple hours and about $125 to breathe new life into an old laptop. Here's how. Bill Gates moves on Is Microsoft's Golden Age over? What are Gates' most memorable quotes? Find out in Computerworld's complete coverage of the end of the Bill Gates era at Microsoft. Five things you should never tell your boss There are some things your CIO definitely doesn't want to hear. Also don't miss the flipside, Five things you should always tell your boss. Hands-On: Firefox 3 fixes what's broke and keeps what's right With its latest version, Mozilla's browser continues to raise the bar for what Web browsers should be. Windows Vista A to Z Reviews, analyses, how-tos, visual tours, hot issues and predictions about Microsoft's new OS. More Continuing Coverage After 9/11: Homeland SecurityAsk a Premier 100 IT LeaderBlackBerry Legal BattleData Security BreachesElectronic VotingFirefoxH-1B VisasHP's Boardroom ScandalHandheld DevicesHurricane Katrina AftermathMicrosoft Legal IssuesMicrosoft's VistaOpen SourceRFID TechnologySCO's Linux FightSarbanes-Oxley ActSpamVoice Over IPWi-FiWindows Meta File VulnerabilityWindows XP Service Pack 3 IT Careers 2010 Four years from now, the IT field will be a vastly different place. Will you be ready? More Special Reports Premier 100 IT Leaders 2007 Best in Class2006 Computerworld Horizon Awards2006 Premier 100 IT Leaders2006 Salary Survey2007 Best Places to Work in IT2007 IT Forecast2007 Premier 100 IT Leaders40 Years of ComputerworldASPs, Take TwoBest Places to Work in IT 2003Best Places to Work in IT 2004Best Places to Work in IT 2005Best Places to Work in IT 2006Business Intelligence Home RunsBusiness Intelligence: Smarter BIBusiness Intelligence: The Future of BICRM Goes VerticalCRM: Sober CRMCareer Planning Guide 2005Careers: IT Profession 2010Computerworld Horizon Awards 2005Data Management: Mining for GemsData Management: Taming Data ChaosDevelopment: Hard-Workin' Web SitesDevelopment: New Tools New ChoicesDevelopment: The New World of Application DevelopmentDevelopment: The Web Services TsunamiDevelopment: Web Services HurdlesDisaster Recovery: Preparing for the WorstE-commerce Grows UpE-mail/Groupware: Big DecisionsFaces of Mobile ITForecast 2006Global MobileHardware: Multiple Cores, Multiple ChallengesHardware: On-Demand Un-HypedHardware: The Shape of Things to ComeHorizon Awards: 10 Cool Cutting Edge TechnologiesIT Management: Guide to Managing VendorsIT Management: Navigating Global ITIT Management: Recovery AheadIT Management: The Future of ITIT Management: The Resourceful Project ManagerInnovative Technology Awards 2004Management: Reinventing ITMicrosoft in TransitionMobile/Wireless Leaders and LaggardsMobile/Wireless: The Untethered WorkerMobile/Wireless: Tiny Gadgets, Huge CostsNetwork Management: Taking ControlNetworking: Turbulence Ahead!Networking: VoIP Goes MainstreamOperating Systems: In the Slow LaneOperating Systems: Linux Goes GlobalOperating Systems: Should You Nix Unix?Outsourcing: Offshore Buyer's GuideOutsourcing: Outsourcing DangersPremier 100 IT Leaders 2004 Best in ClassPremier 100 IT Leaders 2005 Best in ClassROI: Do the Math!Salary Survey 2003Salary Survey 2004Salary Survey 2005Security Action PlanSecurity: Compliance HeadachesSecurity: Proactive SecuritySecurity: Risk and RewardSecurity: Tips From Security ProsSouped-up SecurityStorage: Battling ComplexityStorage: Cheap & Secure Data StoresStorage: Stretching Your Storage DollarsStorage: The Lean Storage MachineStorage: The New Rules of StorageStorage: The Ultimate Backup GuideSupply Chain: Missing LinksSupply Chain: RFID Reality CheckThe Business of SecurityWeb 2.0 SecurityWireless: Wireless At Work All Zones Application Performance Zone Business Continuity Zone Data Center Management Zone Enterprise-Class Security Zone The File Data Management Zone Grid Computing on Windows Zone Security Management Zone ITIL Best Practices Zone The SAS Zone Storage Virtualization Zone Business Intelligence and Analytics Zone See your link here

Computerworld Executive Briefing: The Compliance Era Get this briefing free (a $195 value), for a limited time, courtesy of VeriSign. The new Computerworld report, The Compliance Era, explains why regulatory compliance has zoomed to the top of the IT agenda and shows how real-world IT executives are dealing with the storage, security and privacy challenges. Get this briefing free (a $195 value), for a limited time, courtesy of VeriSign. Download this executive briefing  Long Tail Supplier Collaboration - What's In It For You? Long Tail Supplier Collaboration - What's In It For You? Download this webcast, free, compliments of Sterling Commerce Go to the webcast  Web Security SaaS: The Next Generation of Web Security Download this whitepaper, free for a limited time, compliments of Webroot Software. (Source: Webroot Software) The Web is the new threat vector of choice for hackers and cybercriminals to distribute malware and perpetrate identity theft, financial fraud, and corporate espionage. This paper outlines the challenges facing many SMBs and provides solutions for overall security effectiveness and reducing the burden on IT departments. Download this white paper  White Papers Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. Virtualization Analysis for VMware A Guide to Understanding Messaging Archiving Archiving Compliance with Sunbelt Exchange Archiver View more whitepapers

• DNS hole prompts synchronized patching effort by IT vendors
• Microsoft plugs nine holes in Windows, DNS, SQL
• Symantec warns of new Word attack
• More top stories 

Since You Asked A weekly storage column from storage analyst, Steve Duplessie of the Enterprise Strategy Group Click here to read the latest column by Steve Duplessie

Eliminate SPAM, Gain Productivity Learn all about the dangers and the costs of spam in all its forms – from stock-touting to spreadsheet. Also, understand the drawbacks of traditional hardware- and software-based defenses – and the unique benefits of MessageLabs multi-layered, managed Anti-Spam solution; as illustrated by a real-world case study where MessageLabs stopped spam cold. Download this white paper now!  See more Whitepapers

The Spy Files For Congress to do anything that helps protect consumers and the critical Internet infrastructure as a whole, it must pass laws that require proactive processes to protect computers, not that tell people how to deal with the resulting mess, says Ira Winkler. Click here to read the latest column by Ira Winkler

Understand Messaging Archiving Email storage is growing at an average rate of 35% annually - three out of five decision makers cite the growth of messaging storage as their leading messaging-related problem. This Osterman Research white paper discusses the several reasons to implement a messaging archiving system and provide an overview of Sunbelt Software's offering focused squarely on the archiving space. Download this white paper now!