Feb 1, 2008 7:37 am US/Eastern
Homeland Security To Boost Local Transit Funding
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The tri-state's transit systems are about to get a big boost from homeland security. The agency is expected to give millions of dollars in new grant money to help keep commuters safe.
Congressional aides say transit systems will receive more than $151 million in new grant money, a significant increase over last year's $98 million.
Ports are expected to receive $43 million.
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 is a drastic change from previous years when smaller funds were allotted to the metro area, angering Mayor Bloomberg.
"We have seen huge sums of money spread across the country like peanut butter," Bloomberg said last year. "If you want to build a honey pot to spread money around the 50 states, so be it, but call it what it is. Don't call it homeland security."
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will officially announce the increased funding Friday afternoon.
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