I was up really early last Friday. Blame it on my cat who decided she wanted to make sure I knew she was hungry at 3:00 AM! One good thing about being up early on Friday was being able to catch the early morning news.
As I fumbled around in the dark at 5 AM. I heard our local morning newscasters inform the viewing audience that if you ride the MARC train to work you should leave early due to an increased security presence. Maryland Transit Administration Police began the program of random security checks at MARC train stations, using bomb-sniffing dogs to screen passengers’ luggage and packages to detect explosives. No worries, they told us, there had been no threats. Apparently the new security measures were something they had been planning to do for a while and the funding finally became available for them try out the new measures.
Leave ten minutes early they advised us… just in case we were one of the unlucky random people to be stopped. Well, I did as I was told but I have to be honest, I haven’t noticed much of a change. True… there were more heavily armed security guards (HEAVILY armed). And, yes I saw more of them all over the place. But really, I didn’t see my tax payers dollars at work in any extra special way.
Some might mistake my observation for a complaint. I’m not complaining. Because if the fact that we were able to board earlier and roll out of Union Station on time this past Friday AND this morning is part of the security process then bring ‘em on!
I’m for anything that gets me on the train earlier and gets me out of the gate on time. Of course, it’ll be just my luck that the one day I’m rushing to the gate with no time to spare… will be the exact time I am stopped for a random bag check. Until then, carry on MTA… this leaving for work on time thing works for me!
