The New Jersey transit system is the third largest in the nation with an estimated one million riders per day.

Last month, suspicious packages were reported on a train on the Raritan Valley line in Cranford as well as one at the Chatham train station. NJ Transit police investigated the packages and discovered that they were not explosive devices.

According to NJ Transit police chief Chris Trucillo, the new reporting program is one of the first of its kind for a transit system in the nation.

In a presentation to the transit board on Wednesday, Trucillo outlined recent counterterror security measures that have been implemented including increased police and canine patrols at stations after the death of Osama bin Laden and the creation of a new counterterrorism unit. The unit will focus on developing intelligence leads to help identify potential threats to the transit system.

In addition, transit security officials are working closely with local, county, and state law enforcement agencies to prevent terrorist attacks. NJ Transit even has an officer assigned to the FBI’s terrorism task force.

“It’s about partnerships,” Trucillo said. “No agency can do it alone.”

NJ Transit Police meet regularly with local police officials in nearby towns with train stations, and officers have also reached out to businesses near stations to encourage them to report any suspicious activity.

So far, transit security agents have met with more than 5,000 local businesses.

New Jersey’s new reporting system was made possible with a DHS grant.

If passengers see anything suspicious they can text 65873 or call 1-888-TIPS-NJT.