(The Associated Press circulated the following story on May 5.)
CHICAGO — The city of Chicago, its suburbs and the agencies that operate local public transit systems will receive nearly $40 million in federal funds this year to improve security, officials announced Wednesday.
The $39.4 million award is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative, the federal agency said.
Nearly $5.5 million will be allocated to Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority.
Chicago will share the remaining $33.9 million with Cook County, said Cat Langel, a spokeswoman with the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
Altogether, the Department of Homeland Security is allocating about $725 million for security in urban areas this year, the agency said. The only area receiving more money than Chicago under the grant program is the city of New York, which was awarded $46.7 million.
Officials with Cook County and the CTA said they had not been notified of the award Wednesday afternoon. A Metra spokesperson could not be reached for comment.