Letter to the Honorable Brock Long, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Transit Security Grant Program Funds

Letter

Dear Administrator Long:

As Members of Congress representing the National Capital region served by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), we write in support of WMATA's FY17 application for Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) funds. The TSGP program has historically provided critical funding that has enabled the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) to protect WMATA's infrastructure and customers. WMATA's FY17 application for TSGP funding will ensure the MTPD has the resources it needs to continue to provide security throughout the WMATA system.

WMATA has submitted a FY17 TSGP application of $37.65 million, for a combination of new personnel initiatives and technologies. This application demonstrates WMATA's commitment to protecting its system and the public. Specifically, WMATA's FY17 application would support eleven projects, including:

$4.4 million for Explosives ordinance detection (EOD) canine (K-9) teams
$8.4 million for Anti-Terrorism Teams (ATT)
$0.5 million for an Intelligence Analyst
$0.6 million for Emergency Response and Evacuation Plans (EREP)
$0.8 million for an Exercise Series
$2.9 million for Directed Assignment and Response Team (DART)
$0.35 million for Pop-Up Vehicle Barrier Pilot
$0.5 million for Rail Platform Monitors
$2.25 million for Transit Staff Terrorist Training
$0.9 million for Video Analytics
$15 million for Regional Public Awareness

WMATA provides additional transportation options to a population of 4 million people within a 1,500 square-mile area. Although, WMATA passengers are not limited to those in the capital region. Americans throughout the nation depend on the WMATA system when visiting the capital--attending large national events, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival and Presidential Inaugurations. During the recent Presidential Inauguration, WMATA once again demonstrated its ability to safely and efficiently carry customers throughout the region, providing more than two million trips January 20-21, 2017.

WMATA is also essential to the operation of the federal government, with federal employees representing almost 40 percent of Metrorail's AM peak period customers. More than one-third of all Metrorail stations are located on federal property, serving federal facilities. Unlike other transportation networks in the nation, the WMATA system serves a unique vital security role for the federal government, providing transportation for thousands of United States government employees traveling to and from defense agencies, such as the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security. The system is also essential in a time of crisis such as during an evacuation for weather events or during national emergencies.

We request that you give full and fair consideration to WMATA's application for FY17 TSGP funding, which will help WMATA provide safe and reliable service to commuters and visitors in the National Capital region. Thank you for your attention to this matter.