Bay Area Rapid Transit District directors on Thursday plan to formally demand that the agency receive federal homeland-defense money -- funding from which it has previously been excluded, according to BART spokesman Linton Johnson.

During their board meeting, directors will demand that BART be included in the Bay Area's regional proposal for funds to be submitted to the federal government.

"Not only (are we a) first responder, but also a top 10 target for terrorism," said Johnson. "BART can't be excluded."

New rules announced by the federal government earlier this year require cities and other municipalities nationwide to work cooperatively to receive Department of Homeland Security funds, Johnson explained. The change was made, in part, to answer criticism that federal anti-terror funds were not being used effectively.

"The Bay Area has to fight as a region as opposed to city by city," said Johnson.