London Bombing Spurs Subway Security Talk

After the recent bombings that tore apart London trains and a double-decker bus, local politicians are seeking funding to make sure the same does not happen here.
Assemblymember Mike Gianaris and Councilmember John Liu are calling for more to be done to secure the city’s expansive transit system.
Gianaris is calling for immediate passage of his Transit Security Act, requiring the State Office of Homeland Security to review measures for the entire MTA-controlled infrastructure including New York City’s subways as well as Metro North and Long Island Rail Road trains.
That office would then be empowered to step up security on any or all of those systems to protect commuters.
“The MTA has dropped the ball on protecting New Yorkers safety,” Gianaris said. “It’s time to give responsibility to the anti-terrorism experts who know best what needs to be done to maximize our safety.”
Liu echoed Gianaris’ calls for increased vigilance: “This is another wake-up call to the MTA to work more quickly to harden the subway system against attack.”
Liu maintains that two-thirds of the $600 million allocated by the MTA two years ago for security is still unused. He suggested a number of improvements, including contingency plans in case of a disaster and abandonment of plans to remove conductors from certain trains.