TSA 6-03
TSA Contact: 202-385-1800
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Secretary Mineta Announces $148 Million for Transportation Security
Programs To Fund Port, Intercity Bus, Cargo Grants
As part of the Bush Administration’s ongoing commitment to strengthen security throughout the nation’s transportation system, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today announced $148 million in new transportation security grants.
Secretary Mineta said the $148 million, made available by
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will include $105 million in
Port Security Grants, $15 million in Intercity Bus Security Grants, and $28
million for Operation Safe Commerce’s pilot program for port security.
“The Bush
Administration is committed to further
securing our nation’s highways, mass transit systems, railways, waterways and
pipelines, each of which is critical to ensuring the freedom of mobility and
economic growth,” said Secretary Mineta.
“These grant programs will help the
Transportation Security Administration identify
critical infrastructure, provide transit personnel security training, harden our
seaports, enhance vehicle tracking and driver protection and increase security
throughout the supply chain.”
The Port Security Grants program includes grants for security assessments and strategies for mitigating vulnerabilities and for enhancing cargo and passenger security and access control. Additional funds will be announced in the near future for port incident training to enhance prevention and response preparedness for countering terrorist incidents.
More than $92 million in Port Security Grants has been
distributed to 51 U.S. ports since June 2002.
A selection board composed of representatives from the TSA, U.S. Coast Guard and Maritime Administration (MARAD) will judge Port Security Grant applications. All grant applications are to be submitted to www.portsecuritygrants.dottsa.net. An announcement providing details about the program is being published at the same site, as well as in FedBizOpps, http://fedbizopps.gov.
Intercity Bus Security Grants will enhance security for intercity bus operations by focusing on protecting the driver; monitoring and communicating with over-the-road buses; implementing and operating passenger and baggage screening programs; assessing critical security needs and vulnerabilities; and training transportation personnel to recognize and respond to criminal attacks and terrorist threats, as well as in evacuation procedures.
Preference
will be given to proposals that address those priorities, although other
proposals will be considered. Applications
may be submitted by private and public operators of over-the-road buses, bus
associations and other associations related to the intercity bus industry.
TSA is coordinating the Intercity Bus Security Grants Program with the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Transit
Administration. The program will be
advertised in the Federal Register and is available through the Internet
at http://www.tsa.dot.gov/ under
“Business Opportunities.”
Under
Operation Safe Commerce, TSA today requested applications from the ports of Los
Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey and Seattle/Tacoma for pilot programs
using new security techniques with the potential for increasing the security of
container shipments. A notice was
published in the Nov. 30, 2002 Federal Register soliciting comments on
the program.
Funds
for the grant programs were provided for in the Fiscal Year 2002 Supplemental
Appropriations Act.
###