Airport-like Security Checks Pilot Tested in NJ Railway Station

Airport-like Security Checks Pilot Tested in NJ Railway Station

On Tuesday, commuters at the PATH station in Jersey City had to go through security screening, the kind one encounters at airports. The screening was a part of a pilot test for a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Project for protection against terrorist activities.

Manhattan-bound passengers were surprised when they had to pass through metal detectors before entering the PATH station. Their luggage was also scanned through X-ray machines. It would have been as good as the security checks on airports if they had been asked to takeoff their footwear also.

Tuesday was the first day of the 30-day pilot for a $10 million security project undertaken by DHS. According to DHS spokesman Larry Orluskie the project is aimed at “looking at this technology and how this technology works in this environment without hindering traffic flow.”

Unlike that on airports, the scanning is being done with the objective of detecting explosives only. The metal detectors being used are not sensitive enough to spot weapons like knives and scissors. “You can walk through with scissors, pocket knives, that sort of thing, and it does not go off, because that's not what they're looking for,” added Mr. Orluskie.

Though officials promise that the checks would hardly take a minute but some passengers still see the procedure as a hindrance. “What they are expecting out of this project is to collect information on customer wait times and impact on operations,” said DHS. “The idea is to not hinder people.”

The security checks also gave some of the commuters a sense of insecurity about the whole situation. “Every second you're reminded, you're not safe and your life is not normal,” said Aisha Kazi a passenger.

The security project comes as a safety measure in view of the terrorist attacks in London and Madrid.