Rep. Salazar Secures $18 Million For Tunnel Project At Pueblo’s Railroad Testing Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was instrumental in securing $18 million in funding for construction of a tunnel complex at Pueblo’s railroad testing center.  The authorized funding is included in the 2007 Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act that passed out of the T&I Committee yesterday.

The tunnel project at Pueblo’s Transportation Technology Center (TTC) will be used for emergency training and testing purposes to prevent terrorist attacks on the nation’s underground railroads and stations.

“Around the world our trains and underground stations are high-risk targets for terrorist attacks.  This was clear after subways and trains in London, Malaysia, Madrid, and Tokyo were bombed during the last several years,” said Rep. Salazar.  “For more than two years, I have worked to ensure that the United States has the adequate research facilities to be properly prepared for possible attacks.  The construction of this new tunnel will offer Pueblo’s nationally recognized test center the opportunity to prepare a well-tested plan if these types of violent attacks occur again.  Ensuring that TTC has the tools and equipment it needs for testing purposes will only enhance our homeland security.”

Railroad and underground stations have been identified as high-risk targets due to large passenger volumes, confined spaces, relatively unrestricted access and the possibility of network disruptions that would have significant economic, political, and social impact on the United States.

Security experts have identified a number of technology and training needs to prevent future attacks on tunnels including training for emergency response plans for a variety of scenarios, implementing detection systems, and creating decontamination techniques that could be obtained with the construction of this new test facility.

Salazar was successful in getting the total amount of $18 million approved for TTC.  If the bill is singed into law, the money would be allocated over three years: $4 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, $8 million in FY08, and $6 million in FY09.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration.