Gillibrand Fights for Rail & Public Transportation Security

Press Release

Gillibrand Fights for Rail & Public Transportation Security

Yesterday, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand voted in support of HR 1401, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, which provides $7.3 billion dollars to enact security measures for rail and public transportation over the next five years. The bill, which garnered bipartisan support, improves rail security in the United States.

"We need to take proactive measures to ensure transportation security," said Gillibrand. "Many of our towns and cities rely on our rail transportation systems, and we must make a commitment to a national security plan to make certain these systems run safely and smoothly."

Rail travel is critical to the Upstate New York economy. Last year, 1,071,988 people got on or off stops in the 20th District and the Albany-Rensselaer station is the 10th busiest station in the Amtrak system.

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a national strategy for securing rail and public transportation systems.

"The 2004 Madrid train bombings, and the 2005 bus and rail attacks in London resulted in over 250 deaths and nearly 2,500 wounded individuals, illustrating the real threats to transportation security," said Gillibrand.

Over the next five years the bill would provide $600 million dollars in grants dedicated to rail security, $3.6 billion dollars for public transportation security, and $37 million for over-the-road* bus security.

The bill also authorizes $140 million in grants to improve rail tunnels in the Northeast Corridor.

*Over-The-Road buses are buses where there is a luggage compartment under the seating. (e.g. Greyhound)

Amtrak Service in FY 2006:

City Boardings + Alightings

Albany-Rensselaer 761,434

Fort Edward 6,366

Fort Ticonderoga 1,592

Hudson 145,350

Plattsburgh 8,549

Poughkeepsie 58,564

Rhinecliff 155,803

Saratoga Springs 27,909

Whitehall 1,453____

FY 2006 1,167,020

Source