MTA Receives $22M in Federal Funding to Prevent Terrorism

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new round of federal funding in the fight against terrorism on Thursday and the Metropolitan Transit Authority will be getting a huge chunk of it.

Of the $24 million granted by the government, $22.7 million will be granted toward transportation safety in New York state. But while the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority will receive tens of thousand each, $22.4 million of that will go to the MTA.

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The funding includes a little over $7 million for the New York Police Department's patrolling of the subway system.

“The safety and security of all New Yorkers is priority number one,” said Gov. Cuomo in a statement. “This funding will ensure that those on the front lines have access to the equipment, resources and training they need to protect our communities from those who wish us harm. It is essential that we continue to remain vigilant and invest and support these counterterrorism efforts.”

The investment from the federal government through the Transit Security Grant program is a $3 million increase from last year.

“Moving customers safely and securely through our system is our top priority,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said. “This money will help us to further enhance our infrastructure protection, employee training and to maintain strong police presence in the system to deter threats to the public and our trillion-dollar asset. We’re grateful for the continued advocacy from FEMA, DHS and TSA for recognizing that New York and the MTA remain top potential terrorist targets and that we must continue to be as vigilant as ever protecting all those who use our system.”

Photo Credit: Eliza Rubin/Patch