DHS adds $10 million to antiterror programs of NYC transportation system

Published 7 July 2006

DHS received a lot of criticism for cutting more than $80 million from New York City’s antiterrorism grants; the department has now added $10 million to the city’s transportation system’s security plan

After cutting the homeland security money allocated to New York City in the 2007 budget by $83 million, DHS has decided to increase its grant to New York-area transit systems by about $10 million this year. The transit funding will rise from $37.5 million last year to $47 million this year, a 25 percent increase, according to an official with knowledge of the grants program. “It’s positive news, considering we went down 40 percent in the last month,” said House Homeland Security chairman Peter King (R-New York), who has lobbied the administration for more funding. “It’s a small step in the right direction.”

In addition to funding security on subways, the Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North, the money will go to improvements on New Jersey and Connecticut transit systems. City and state officials have urged DHS secretary Michael Chertoff to help offset New York’s losses by increasing funding in other programs.