Transportation officials and emergency responders from across the Northwest will take another step toward strengthening homeland security when they meet in Seattle for a two-day Federal Transit Administration (FTA) forum aimed at expanding the region’s ability to respond to emergencies.

The Connecting Communities: Emergency Preparedness and Security Forum - one of 17 across the nation - is a key component of a new transit security initiative aimed at helping transportation agencies and first responders better prepare and protect their communities through coordinated emergency response efforts.

A media briefing on the forum will be held at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24 in the Executive Board Room on the 5th floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1113 6th Ave., Seattle. FTA officials will also discuss the role public transportation played in responding to the September 11th attacks in New York City and Washington, DC.

Scheduled to attend the briefing are: FTA Deputy Administrator Robert Jamison; FTA Region 10 Administrator Rick Krochalis; FTA Senior Security Specialist Leonard Diamond; King County Executive Ron Sims; King County Department of Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi; Public Health - Seattle & King County Director Dr. Alonzo Plough; and Seattle Fire Department Deputy Chief A.D. Vickery.

As the U.S. government continues to make strides to improve homeland security efforts, the FTA has launched a transit security initiative to help metropolitan areas strengthen partnerships to protect the nation’s vital public transportation network. With local support from King County Metro Transit, the forum in Seattle is attracting attendees from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Alaska to discuss strategies and security measures that support emergency preparedness and response for public transportation systems.