3 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

 

 

A pair of House lawmakers is backing a bill that would prod the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) into implementing all the requirements of a decade-old law aimed at addressing terror threats on Amtrak.

http://thehill.com/p...urity-on-amtrak

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 9/23:

 

U.S. senators call for tighter security at rail stations, ports

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a bill this week that would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to beef up security for surface transportation locations such as rail stations and ports.

The proposed "Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act" would address deficiencies in the TSA's efforts to protect rail, transit, highway and maritime passenger and freight transportation that were identified in a recent report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security inspector general, according to a press release issued by U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.)

The bill, S. 3379, is sponsored by Thune and U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

 

Continue here.

 

 

[KevinKorell]

Bloomberg,  9/26/16:

 

After New York Attack, Congress Wants TSA to Secure Amtrak, Buses

 

 

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is one of those federal agencies that tends to inspire intense reactions among the traveling public. It’s a bureaucracy that interacts with millions of passengers each day, requiring their shoes, jackets, laptops—and time.

 

Virtually all this occurs at airports, with about 80 percent of the agency’s $7.4 billion budget spent on aviation security. Only 2 percent of the TSA’s funding goes to surface transportation, according to a report by the Office of Inspector General earlier this month. Congress is looking to change that.

Story here.  As I have said before, there is no way that a train boarding in a large station like New York Penn can be secured without causing massive pedestrian gridlock and delaying not only Amtrak but commuter passengers as well.  Amtrak trains share platforms with NJT and LIRR, so those passengers would be on the platforms freely while Amtrak passengers somehow would be screened before descending to the platform.  Plus there are too many multiple accesses from the NJT and LIRR and arrivals concourses.  And there will be even more access once the Moynihan facility across the street and associated direct platform stairways from the 8th Avenue Subway are open.

 

It is shocking that this person supposedly had the New York and Elizabeth bombs aboard NJT trains (including riding through the tunnels), but was there really any way he could have been caught beforehand? Allegedly he walked right by the extra police and armed soldiers and boarded a commuter train, after alighting from one hours before.  Would a bomb sniffing dog as they have on Amtrak have caught this had he been run through the commuter train?

[KevinKorell]

WDTV-TV, Channel 5 in Weston, WV, 10/19/16:

 

Lawmakers want TSA to Secure Amtrak, Buses

 

When it comes to transportation security, the attention has been on our skies, but a bipartisan group of senators want the Transportation Security Administration or TSA to focus more on rail, highways and waterways.

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