City Transit Expected To Get Anti-Terror Boost
By DEVLIN BARRETT,
WASHINGTON — New York City-area transit systems are expected to see a big increase in security dollars from the Department of Homeland Security, and Syracuse, Rochester, and Albany will be added to the list of cities considered at the greatest risk of terror attacks.
Congressional aides said yesterday that transit systems in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey will receive $151.2 million in new grant money, a more than 50% increase from last year's figure of $98 million.
In port grants, the region will receive $43 million, up a bit from the $42 million it received the previous year.
A separate, larger, anti-terror grant program for cities will also see significant changes.
Officials said Syracuse, Rochester, and the Albany-Schenectady-Troy areas will be among the 14 urban areas added to the list of cities considered at high risk of terror attack. This year, some 60 urban areas will share nearly $782 million available. Albany had been cut from the list of eligible cities in 2003.
In making the list, officials have not determined yet how much each city will receive.
The aides briefed on the funding spoke on condition of anonymity because Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff is not expected to make a formal announcement until today, when he will appear at Grand Central Terminal in New York City Governor Spitzer. A DHS spokesman declined to comment.
New York State's homeland security chief, Michael Balboni, said that in the years since the 2001 terror attacks, major potential targets have been made more secure, allowing smaller cities to qualify for help.
