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New Jersey Transit recently obtained a $9 million federal grant to provide security and terrorism awareness training for frontline employees. The grant was issued through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transit Security Grant Program.

NJ Transit has awarded a $4.3 million contract to Protecting the Homelands Innovations L.L.C. to implement ProActive Terrorist Recognition and Interdiction Operations and Tactics (P.A.T.R.I.O.T.) system training for about 9,500 employees, including train crews, regional supervisors and police officers. The remainder of the grant proceeds will be used for related materials, equipment and other costs.

Formerly known as Behavioral Assessment Screening System training, P.A.T.R.I.O.T. will enhance existing security training programs and teach employees how to recognize potential high-risk individuals through observation and behavior assessment, NJ Transit officials said in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, the agency has announced it plans to expand its “Quiet Commute” program to five of its busiest rail lines.

Beginning Jan. 3, NJ Transit will add Quiet Commute cars to all peak period, peak direction trains that begin or end their trips at New York Penn Station or Newark Penn Station. The first and last cars of those trains will be designated as Quiet Commute cars on which passengers cannot use cell phones and must disable the sound feature on pagers, games, computers and other electronic devices. In addition, conversations should be conducted in "subdued voices," according to NJ Transit.

In September, NJ Transit launched a Quiet Commute pilot on its busiest Northeast Corridor trains. Due to the positive rider feedback, the agency plans to roll out the program system-wide sometime in 2011.