May 21, 2007
$560,000 in federal grants to protect transit system in Portland & Gresham
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Federal Security Director (FSD) Michael Irwin announced today a $560,000 grant to TriMet for light rail CCTV system improvements and expansion. Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided approximately $4.4 million to Portland through grants and equipment transfer programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Capabilities Division.
These awards are part of $14.2 million in grants to Tier II urban areas across the nation. The funds are available through the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), which is part of the Department’s Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP). The resources provided by this program strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies that could impact the country's critical infrastructure.
"This award will help TriMet upgrade key security features in its transportation infrastructure, a prime goal of these grants," said Transportation Security Administration Federal Security Director Michael Irwin. "DHS's two-tiered approach ensures that cities such as Portland have the opportunity to compete for grants that will make a significant difference in protecting transit passengers."
"The $560,000 transit security grant will allow TriMet to expand our CCTV system and add more presence to busy light rail stations,” said Fred Hansen, TriMet General Manager. “This partnership with TSA will fund adding CCTV cameras to five Gresham area MAX stations: E 162nd Ave, E 181st Ave, Rockwood/E 188th Ave, Gresham Central Transit Center and Cleveland Ave, and upgrade CCTV at the Westside MAX tunnel."
The TSGP utilizes a two-tiered, risk-based approach that focuses on high risk and high consequence transit systems. On May 9, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff announced $157 million in funding to Tier 1 urban areas, which are comprised of high passenger density and rail systems with significant infrastructures, such as underwater tunnels and stations and ferry systems. Urban areas that received funds in previous years, but were not eligible in Tier 1, qualified to apply and compete for TSGP Tier 2 funds.
TSGP Tier 2 allocations, totaling $14.2 million, place a strong emphasis on the training and preparedness of TSA’s frontline workforce. Eligible Tier 2 transit systems were also permitted to focus on other priorities, including emergency drills, employee training, and public awareness programs that support overall system preparedness.
This year, nearly $445 million has been allocated for IPP programs.
Infrastructure protection grants considered threat, vulnerability and consequences, and recognized the unique characteristics of our nation’s seaports, transit systems and other critical infrastructure assets. Since its inception, the IPP has awarded nearly $2 billion to critical infrastructure sectors.