If you've ridden a TriMet bus or MAX train this week, you may have noticed extra security and fare inspectors.



The transit agency and the Transportation Security Administration have teamed up this week to provide additional security in light of Osama bin Laden's death Sunday, said TriMet spokeswoman Bekki Witt.



Witt did not know how many TSA representatives are riding buses and MAX trains and she did not know how long the commitment would last. She said the federal agency teams up with TriMet a couple times a year and when there's an elevated threat level.



"What we have done is, working with the TSA, increased our presence and visibility on the system," she said, adding that supervisors are not just responding to incidents but looking for suspicious activity.



"These folks ride the system or are on the system all the time," Witt said, "but in light of Osama bin Laden's death we worked with the TSA to step up that visibility, to be vigilant looking for suspicious objects and behavior."



A note to fare jumpers: TriMet has also increased the number of supervisors inspecting tickets this week.



The added security, typical after a U.S. military action or an elevated national threat level, didn't go unnoticed by riders during Tuesday night's rush hour.



Several passengers tweeted their observations.



On Twitter, iKarith asked: "Why are there #TSA inspectors on #PDX's #TriMet bus system?"



RagingLibrulPDX responded: "Must be some commie plot to take over the world."





"What's up w/ @TriMet chcking fares today?," asked scarlet1221. "They were on the train to & from town. First time I've been checked in over a year."





- Noelle Crombie



- Joseph Rose



