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Add the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to the list of transit agencies that have joined the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) canine program.

Last week, 12 explosive detection canine teams graduated from TSA’s National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program and were assigned to MARTA, as well as airports in Salt Lake City; Reno, Nev.; Little Rock, Ark.; and Tauming, Guam.

During a 10-week training course, law enforcement officers from MARTA and the airports were matched up with a TSA canine to learn dog handling, and explosives search and safety techniques. Teams will receive additional training and certification locally.

Although primarily targeted at airports, the program recently was expanded to 10 transit systems — Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Bay Area Rapid Transit, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Port Authority Trans-Hudson, Chicago Transit Authority, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Maryland Transit Administration, San Francisco Municipal Railway and San Diego Trolley.