No backpacks among several new security plans for Pittsburgh Marathon

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, public safety officials and Pittsburgh Marathon organizers said plans are in place to keep runners and spectators safe in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

But Ravenstahl and the others offered few details of those plans, and revealed even less when asked how much the city or race organizers plan to pay for extra security measures or where the money will come from.

All Ravenstahl would say is, "We're going to figure it out." And responding to concerns aired by race director Patrice Matamoros that the costs could bankrupt the nonprofit that puts on the event, the mayor says, "The marathon is not going to go bankrupt this year, the marathon is not going to go bankrupt next year."

One of the new security procedures will be banning backpacks from the race.

“Avoid bringing backpacks at all,” Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Mike Huss said.

The race will also include extra fencing and more police officers.

“I think our message is very clear. We want to make sure the actions of Boston don’t affect our runners and our marathon,” Ravenstahl said.

The May 5 race is expected to draw more than 27,000 runners.

WPXI