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Last week, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that it would work with the two states’ offices of homeland security to develop a pilot program to deploy National Guard troops at Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rapid-transit system facilities.

Starting this week, up to 40 guardsmen will be randomly deployed throughout the 13-station PATH system. The troops will supplement existing security, which includes K-9 detection and special operations units, provided by the Port Authority Police Department.

Similar programs already are in place at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

“Protecting an open, interstate system requires incredible cooperation, and the Port Authority is an appropriate vehicle to test bi-state partnerships,” Port Authority Chairman Anthony Coscia said in a prepared statement.

On a typical workday, the PATH system records 230,000 passenger trips. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Port Authority has provided $3 billion to secure its facilities.