Homeland Security Grants Aim to Harden Transit

Totaling $88 million, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants are intended to protect transit agencies from terrorism and generally boost their resilience. Recipients include the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Bay Area Rapid Transit, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the New York City Police Department.

The NYPD grant will cover officer patrols of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's system, while the L.A. grant will go toward the installation of intrusion detection technology at Metro's underground rail stations. A separate $10 million also went out to Amtrak.

DHS has been subject to criticism for shortchanging rail security in favor of hardening airports, despite repeated attacks on trains and transit outside the United States.