Res. No. 28
Resolution calling upon the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to require that all baggage at the Port Authority Bus Terminal undergo security screening.
By Council Members Cabrera and Brannan
Whereas, New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal is the world’s busiest bus terminal, serving more than 65 million passengers a year, with approximately 8,000 buses passing through every weekday; and
Whereas, Individuals can generally access the terminal itself and the buses it serves without undergoing a security screening; and
Whereas, The federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) conducts random security screening operations, which can include behavior, radiological/nuclear, and explosives detection, at various transportation facilities nationwide, including bus and rail stations, through its Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response program (VIPR); and
Whereas, TSA’s VIPR program is not as comprehensive or consistent as its airport security operations, which screen every commercial airline passenger and piece of luggage; and
Whereas, Public transportation systems have been a frequent target for terrorist attacks, notably the 2004 Madrid train bombings and the 2005 London bus and train attacks, as well as the attack by a would-be suicide bomber in the Times Square-Port Authority Bus Terminal subway station complex in December 2017; and
Whereas, With violence and instability common throughout the world, and in particular with terrorist groups such as ISIS continuing to pose serious threats, we must remain vigilant and do all we can to prevent attacks in our City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to require that all baggage at the Port Authority Bus Terminal undergo security screening.
LS# 1704
1/10/2018
JM