Big Game Dubbed The 'First Mass Transit Super Bowl' & Security Is High
NEW YORK (CBS4) - This weekend some 80,000 fans will make their way to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. for the Super Bowl, and most of them will be using mass transit. That means extra security for all of that public transportation.
Uptown, downtown, across town -- subways and trains carry residents and visitors to all parts of the city and beyond.
"There's a lot going on in the city with the football game," commuter Gary Helton said.
At New York's Penn Station, the Department of Homeland Security, along with Amtrak police, is already working to ensure the safety of travelers.
"They're patrolling, they're looking for any sort of suspicious activity, they're working along with Amtrak, along with the dog, the explosives canine to look for anything out of the ordinary," Michael Pascarella with the Federal Air Marshall Service said.
Dixie is trained to sniff out any hazardous materials along the train platforms. Specialized equipment like a backpack is used to "sniff" out other potential dangers.
"It detects a larger area for any sort of radiological matter or substance in the air," Pascarella said.
Other officers are highly trained to watch for suspicious behavior. They also look for anything that seems out of place.
The presence of the specialized security teams is visible to everyone and hopefully will also act as a deterrent.
"I would rather see an abundance than to see too few," Helton said. "Makes me a little more secure in that regard."
And the constant message to travelers is -- if you see something, say something.
The Transportation Security Administration says it will also be screening all passengers' bags for any explosives before they head to the stadium on Sunday. They're urging fans to give themselves plenty of time to get through all of the security measures in time for kickoff.
The Broncos will play the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
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