US increases security spending on ports, transport

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) The Bush administration has announced a 12 per cent jump in security grant funding to protect ports, transportation systems and other facilities judged to be at greatest risk for attack.

The Department of Homeland Security released application kits for five grant programmes totaling 445 million dollars for fiscal year 2007 that covers state, local and private infrastructure security initiatives. The fiscal year ends on September 30.

''This year's grants reflect a rigorous, disciplined approach that places risk first,'' Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement.

The department has earmarked 201.2 million dollars in security grants for ports in New York and northern New Jersey; New Orleans; the Houston-Galveston area of Texas; Los Angeles and Long Beach, California; Seattle-Tacoma; Delaware Bay in the Middle Atlantic; San Francisco Bay and the Port Arthur-Beaumont area of Texas.

An additional 141 million dollars in transit security grants for rail and bus systems have been made available for the New York metropolitan area including New Jersey and Connecticut; the Washington area; Boston; the San Francisco Bay Area; Chicago; Philadelphia; Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Amtrak's passenger rail system will be able to receive 8 million dollars in security grants.

The government is also making available grant money for ferry, trucking and intercity bus systems.

Reuters DKS VP0435