ABA Congratulates FY 2023 Bus Security Grant Award Winners
The American Bus Association offers its congratulations to the 19 recipients of the fiscal year 2023 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) funds used by recipients to implement strategies, conduct training exercises, and implement training and technologies designed to mitigate security threats to passengers and facilities of motorcoach operators.
ABA members use federal dollars to bolster motorcoach safety and security in a variety of ways, including building fencing perimeters, adding security cameras, buying metal detection screening equipment, installing driver shields, enabling global positioning satellite tracking (GPS), developing security plans, conducting vulnerability assessments and taking advantage of training exercises to coordinate response efforts with law enforcement and other first responders.
Since September 11, 2001, ABA has actively lobbied Congress for funding for the industry and ABA members have taken steps to demonstrate that the motorcoach industry proactively takes measures to mitigate security risks as well as to minimize threats to their passengers and operations, often without the benefit of federal funding. The FY 2023 grants required a 50 percent private cost match or in-kind contribution to secure funding.
Since 2003, ABA members have received nearly 95 percent of the $119 million in security grant funding awarded to the motorcoach industry by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ABA members also further demonstrated their commitment to security by expending tens of millions of dollars of their own money as in-kind contributions or matching funds to help secure the nation’s private motorcoach industry.
“ABA is pleased our lobbying efforts assisted in continuing to make security funds available for the entire industry,” said ABA President and CEO Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS. “Our members are committed to improving motorcoach security and we’ve encouraged all bus operators to take the necessary steps to protect their passengers, as passenger safety is the industry’s number one priority. Now we need Congress and our partners at the Department of Homeland Security to continue to provide access to these critical funds, and support measures for increased funding so that the private motorcoach industry can ensure that bus transportation remains secure.”
Did you apply for a security grant and NOT receive funding? Tell ABA about it so that we can let Congress know how important this program is and how it will impact on your operations. Please email bbuchanan@buses.org with your security grant project, how much you applied for and how much more funding your company could use if more grant funds were available.
Click here to view the FY 2023 security grant recipients.
