Transit Bill Stiffs Bus, Train Riders
Posted on: Thursday, 11 August 2005, 15:00 CDT
Aug. 11--WASHINGTON -- President Bush signed a $284 billion transit bill yesterday that critics said is stuffed with pork, but devoid of cash to safeguard buses and subways from terrorist bombings.
It was the second time in recent weeks that federal officials balked at funding security improvements for mass transit, despite last month's bombings of London buses and trains.
Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff ruled out spending cash from his agency for mass transit, saying it's more important to secure airliners.
It is up to states, he said, to take care of buses and subways.
"It's another instance where the opportunity to address this funding issue has come and gone without being taken advantage of," said Bill Johnstone, former 9/11 commission staffer and transportation security expert.
The commission had urged Congress and the White House to include anti-terrorism measures in the massive transit bill.
"There's no mystery here that the attacks are in large urban centers," said P.J. Crowley, director of national defense and homeland security at the Center for American Progress think tank.
Citing the bombings of London's mass transit and Madrid's commuter trains, he added, "We just took a giant step backward."
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) vowed to press for transit security funds when the Homeland Security appropriations bill comes up in the fall.
"We spend about $7 for every airline passenger and just over a penny for every mass transit rider," Schumer said. "As London and Madrid showed us, mass transit has been the terrorist target of choice."
By Elizabeth S. Widdicombe and Kenneth R. Bazinet
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Source: Daily News
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