The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) selected Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor to upgrade the MTA?s electronic security operations infrastructure. The MTA oversees the New York City Transit system, Long Island Railroad, Metro North Railroad, and numerous New York area bridges and tunnels. Work under the three-year contact, valued at $212 million will start immediately. The contract includes maintenance options that could extend the program through September 2013.

The BBC article points out that the contract calls for more than 1,000 cameras and 3,000 sensors to be installed at platforms, stations and terminals, on bridges and in tunnels, but not in train carriages or buses themselves. MTA Security Director Bill Morange said: ?Lockheed?s involvement in this program enables us to move forward with our plans to create a next generation command and control structure that addresses future needs for hardening our transit system against terror threats, and ultimately provide a safer environment for MTA customers.? ?We hope (this) will detect the terrorist before an incident happens, not just be able to report for forensic purposes after an incident happens and identify who the terrorist is,? said MTA Executive Director Katherine Lapp .