Access Control
& Security Systems

U.S. Senator Max Cleland (D-Ga.) has introduced legislation that would provide $400 million to fund security upgrades across the U.S. intercity bus or motorcoach industry.

"In the wake of the current challenge to our national transportation security, we must ensure that no component of passenger service is forgotten," Cleland said. "We have made great strides in the improvement of security at airports, and are working on security at rail terminals, but I believe Congress would be negligent if we do not act on this issue while we have the opportunity."

Under the provisions of the bill, grants would be administered by the Secretary of Transportation. The grants would be applied to: protecting drivers; implementing passenger screening programs; constructing or modifying existing terminals; training employees in terrorist threat assessment; hiring security officers; and installing video surveillance and communications equipment.

Motorcoaches carried an estimated 774 million passengers in 1999, far in excess of the passenger load carried by the airlines, and more in two weeks than Amtrak carries in one year. The industry has the best safety rating of any commercial passenger transportation mode, with the fewest annual on-board fatalities over the past decade, according to National Safety Council data.

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