Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


1.	What is the purpose of the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, is designed to jumpstart the U.S. economy, create or save millions of jobs and address national needs—while supporting unprecedented levels of transparency, oversight and accountability.  

ARRA TSGP specifically focuses on the use of visible, unpredictable deterrence through the funding of Operational Packages for canine teams, mobile explosives detection screening teams, and Anti-Terrorism Teams both due to their effectiveness in reducing risk to transit systems and their potential for job creation.  In addition, funding is provided for capital projects including Multi-User High-Density Key Infrastructure Protection, Single-User High-Density Key Infrastructure Protection, Key Operating Asset Protection, and Other Mitigation Activities.

2.	How much funding was available under the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP?

The total amount of funds distributed under the ARRA TSGP is $150,000,000.

3.	What are the priorities for the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP?

Operational Packages and Shovel Ready Capital Projects were the two priorities for the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP:
•	Operational Packages
o	Canine Teams
o	Mobile Explosives Screening Teams
o	Anti-Terrorism Teams
•	Shovel Ready Capital Projects
o	Tunnel Hardening
o	High-Density Elevated Operations
o	Multi-User High-Density Stations
o	Hardening of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems
o	High-Density Station and Bridges security enhancements
o	Physical Hardening / Security of Control Centers
o	Secure stored / parked trains, engines, and buses
o	Maintenance Facility security enhancements

4.	Who was eligible to apply for FY 2009 ARRA TSGP funds?

With the exception of ferry systems, those eligible for the FY 2009 TSGP and Amtrak were also eligible for FY 2009 ARRA TSGP funds. Ferry systems were not eligible under ARRA TSGP as they were eligible under ARRA PSGP and competed for a separate allocation under that program.

To qualify for Shovel Ready Capital Projects for Asset Hardening, applicants must have certified that the project can begin within 90 days of the release of funds.  Applicants must also have certified that the project will be completed within 24 months of the release of funds date.  This was intended to fund construction projects that can quickly create job opportunities.

Eligibility for Operational Packages was determined based on the number of authorized     sworn positions for transit agency police departments and law enforcement agencies with dedicated transit bureaus.  Law enforcement agencies with dedicated transit bureaus were eligible through the transit agency for which they provide security; the transit agency itself is the grantee, and as such must have applied on behalf of the law enforcement agency.   Security service providers with unsworn law enforcement officers or guards were not eligible.  Funding in the amount of $77,811,975 for Operational Packages was announced on July 29, 2009.  This funded approximately 240 new law enforcement officers at 15 transit systems across the country to enhance the nation's ability to guard against acts of terrorism.
  
5.	How were the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP funds determined?

Funds are being awarded through a fully competitive process.  Final allocations for ARRA TSGP Capital Projects total $72,188,025.  Final allocations for FY 2009 ARRA TSGP Operational Packages totaled $77,811,975 and were announced on July 29, 2009.  The projects awarded funding were aligned with the national priorities and created or saved jobs.  The projects also were the most risk-effective in addressing known vulnerabilities at high-risk locations.  The risk methodology for ARRA TSGP is consistent across modes and is linked to the risk methodology used to determine eligibility for the core DHS State and local grant programs.  

6.	What legislation authorizes funding for the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) provides funding for this program.


7.	What other resources are available to address programmatic, technical and financial questions?

•	For additional program-specific information, please contact the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) help line at (800) 368-6498 or askcsid@dhs.gov.  CSID hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.  
•	For financial-related questions, including pre-and post-award administration and technical assistance, please contact the FEMA Call Center at (866) 927-5646 or via E-mail to ASK-GMD@dhs.gov.

8.	What is the FY 2009 ARRA TSGP period of performance?

The period of performance of this grant is 36 months.