Office for Domestic Preparedness 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

Washington, DC 20531

ODP Information Bulletin 

No. 160 April 11, 2005 

TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads 

 All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact 

FROM: Matt A. Mayer 

 Acting Executive Director 

SUBJECT: FY 2005 Transit Security Grant Program Release 

The Department of Homeland Security, Office of State and Local Government 

Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) is pleased to announce its Fiscal Year (FY) 

2005 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP). This regionally focused grant program 

will make $135 million available to eligible transit agencies through designated State 

Administrative Agencies (SAAs) for the protection of critical infrastructure and 

emergency preparedness activities. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Transit Security Grant Program represents funds provided through the FY 2005 

DHS Appropriations Act and will be managed through the newly created 

Transportation Infrastructure Security Division (TISD) within the Preparedness 

Programs Division (PPD) of SLGCP. The program’s mission is to create a sustainable 

effort for the protection of regional transit systems from terrorism, especially explosives 

and non-conventional threats that would cause major loss of life and severe disruption. 

SAA ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Grant Application and 

Administration 

The Governor of each state and territory has designated an 

SAA to apply for and administer PPD funds. Accordingly, 

the relevant SAA is the only agent eligible to apply for the 
funds identified in the TSGP application kit. 

Regional Transit Working 

Group Coordination and 

Management 

All transit agencies that are eligible to receive TSGP 

funding are required to participate in a Regional Transit 

Security Working Group (RTSWG). The purpose of the 

RTSWG is to develop a Regional Transit Security Strategy 

(RTSS) and coordinate region-wide transit security 

enhancements. The applicable SAA(s) will coordinate 

and manage the formation of the working group and the 

development of the RTSS. 

Submission of the Security 

and Emergency 

Preparedness Plan and 

Strategy 

Program implementation for the TSGP is driven by the 

RTSS and each eligible transit agency’s risk-based 

Security and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP). The 

SAA will facilitate the submission of the RTSS and the 

SEPP to TISD as part of the grant application/post award 

process. 

Regional Coordination Funds for the TSGP are allocated on a regional basis, thus 

distribution must be based on the RTSS, SEPPs, and 

consensus among the eligible transit agencies and SAA. 

Where a region includes more than one state, all of the 

applicable SAAs must approve the funding allocation. 

Assistance in Competitive 

Grant Process 

SAAs are responsible for working with identified ferry 

systems to submit projects for funding consideration as 

part of the competitive portion of the TSGP application. 

TSGP VIDEO TELECONFERENCES 

TISD will host a series of regional Video Teleconferences (VTCs) to provide a program 

overview and orientation to the Transit Security Grant Program. An official invitation 

and details for connecting to the meetings will be distributed to SAAs in a separate 

communication. The schedule is as follows: 

 Western: Thursday; April 14, 2005; 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM 

 Eastern: Friday; April 15, 2005; 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM 

 Central: Friday; April 15, 2005; 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM 

 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 

Technical Assistance (TA) is available to assist with the establishment of the RTSWG 

and the development of the RTSS. TA is also available to support the conduct of transit 

system risk assessments. All TA is available on a first come, first serve basis and subject 

to the availability of funding. TA request forms are available in the SLGCP TA Catalog 

at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/ODP_TA_Catalog.pdf. 

These forms should be submitted by the SAA to the appropriate PPD state 

preparedness officer for coordination. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For your convenience, a Fact Sheet containing additional information about the TSGP 

has been attached. For specific information concerning eligibility and grant guidelines, 

please refer to the TSGP application kit at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm

Questions related to this grant program may be directed to tsgp@dhs.gov or to the 

SLGCP Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk at 1-800-368-6498. 

Frequently asked questions regarding the TSGP will be addressed in bi-weekly 

conference calls every other Wednesday from 1:30-2:30pm EST, beginning April 20th. 

Call number: (800) 860-2442 

Participant Code: 4713 

Attachment: TSGP Fact Sheet