Bombs prompt tighter security at New York, New Jersey transit agencies

East Coast passenger-rail agencies have stepped up security forces after this weekend's bombings in New York City and New Jersey.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City, for example, has increased patrols and surveillance "to provide heightened protection across all its agencies," according to a news release issued by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.

The MTA police department also has boosted the presence of uniformed and plainclothes officers, while canine teams and emergency service units have been deployed to provide extra protection. At the agency's railroads, there will be "surge patrols," increased patrols of trains and random bag checks at various locations, Cuomo's release said.

In addition, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has increased increased police patrols at all of the agency's facilities. PANYNJ owns and operates the Port Authority Trans-Hudson commuter-rail line between New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.

The bombing in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood injured 29 people. After the explosion, MTA inspected portions of its subway system and stations around the area. Neither the subway nor PATH's system suffered any structural damage, according to Cuomo.

The MTA's teams began inspections late Saturday night, MTA New York City Transit Vice President and Chief Mechanical Officers Frank Jezycki told reporters yesterday.

"It's important to know that the blast was not in proximity to the subway structure," Jezycki added.

There were two bombings in New Jersey: one on Sunday near a train station in Elizabeth, while the other occurred Saturday at a Marine Corps charity run in Seaside Park. No injuries were reported in these two incidents.

Today, Amtrak is operating its Northeast Corridor routes with a modified schedule after suspending service Sunday due to the bombing in Elizabeth, the national passenger railroad announced.