To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. A NEW DAY FOR MASS TRANSIT gress even got around to creating a program within DHS’ Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness that specifically focused on transportation security. And it’s Congress that has consistently shortchanged DHS’ transit security funding. The amounts that have been earmarked for transit security are paltry compared to the many billions expended on aviation security. During the last four years of the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), $1 billion was allocated. For FY 2009, $373 million was awarded to some of the nation’s largest transit systems. The Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) program received $20 million in FY 2008 for VIPR teams; $7.5 million in FY 2005 for explosive detection canine teams; and about $75 million for Transportation Security Officers from FY 2005 through FY 2009. While some transit systems like VRE have had their explosives sniffing canine programs funded by TSGP grants, other cities and localities have had to take it upon themselves to increase armed police presence and use bomb sniffing dogs and bomb detection technology and to deploy surveillance cameras and conduct random bag searches. Analysis WHEN DUTY CALLS, COMMUNICATE WITH DAVID CLARK AIR, LAND AND SEA… I Although the Obama administration and Democratic lawmakers have promised that mass transit will get the attention security authorities say it needs, it’s not going to be cheap. A 2004 survey by the American Public Transportation Association said it would take $6 billion to put in place security measures to reasonably protect transit riders. In the past, lawmakers had rejected a fraction of that amount for transit security programs. And with large metropolitan cities in the throes of a worsening fiscal crisis, these measures are extraordinarily costly for cities with widely used, sprawling mass transit systems. Ervin told lawmakers: “The federal government has an obligation to help at least the highest risk cities shoulder the burden of these costs, because these are the cities that are likeliest to be targeted by terrorists, and an attack on any one of them would be an attack on the nation as a whole.” Model H10-76XL “Federal dollars should be applied n the air, on the ground where they are most effective, and time and or on the water, David Clark time again we have learned that investing in noise-attenuating headsets and operational packages related to [the systems make the difference for human component of] transit security is Homeland Security, rescue and one of our most effective public safety emergency response personnel. tools,” Michael Balboni, New York Deputy We manufacture the highest Secretary for Public Safety, said at the same quality headsets and intercom hearing. “New York and its regional partners systems for aviation, ground have long expressed to the federal governsupport, fire/rescue, marine, ment … that the transit grant programs be two-way radio and special permissive in allowing the dollars to be operations. David Clark used for [these kinds of] personnel costs,” products provide outstanding Balboni said. comfort, communication Nonetheless, no matter how much is clarity and rugged reliability – spent, all mass transit authorities are unanifrom aviation cockpits to vehicle mous on one point: It’s impossible to intercom systems to Homeland Security Series 9500 achieve 100 percent security given the power boats. Find out how we can serve you. nature and purpose of mass transit. Rather, the objective should be the development Call 800-298-6235 for more information. of a set of real-world counterterrorist tools that are able to manage risks within acceptable levels without making mass transit too slow, cumbersome or expensive to continue attracting riders. HST TEL: (508) 751-5800 E-Mail: sales@davidclark.com www.davidclark.com ©2009 David Clark Company Incorporated – Green headset domes are a David Clark Company Trademark. Read more mass transit articles at www.HSToday.us 28 April 2009 | www.HSToday.us This month’s issue is now available online at…