New Bomb-Scanners To Be Tested At World Trade Center PATH Station

DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Port Authority is testing new body scanning technology that can detect bombs, guns and other weapons at the World Trade Center PATH station, officials announced.

Port Authority said it would be testing the new scanners on Thursday and Friday at the downtown PATH station during the morning and evening rush hours.

"The idea behind this pilot program is to evaluate another resource available to us in the effort to ensure the continuing protection and security of the traveling public," Port Authority's chief security officer John Bilich said in a statement.

The new scanning machine is called Evolv Edge, and looks similar to traditional security scanners but doesn't require individuals to remove their electronics or empty their pockets, according to the machine's promotional materials. The machines can scan more than 600 people in an hour and works much faster than traditional airport scanners, according to the manufacturer Evolv Technology.

The machines will be in place at the PATH station on Thursday and Friday, but participation in the test is completely voluntary, the Port Authority said. This is the first time the agency has publicly tested the new scanners after previously having tested them at the Port Authority headquarters.

The Evolv Edge also has facial recognition capabilities, according to its promotional materials, which includes built-in cameras that can capture facial images of people passing through the machine and then match them against a "locally defined gallery," according to the Evolv Technology. Its unclear whether the images are stored and, if so, for how long. Evolv Technology says the facial recognition can be used to grant access for employees and to detect "adversaries" or employees who have been fired.

The technology is being tested at massive transit hubs throughout the country, including Union Station in Washington, D.C. and the Denver international airport, among other highly-trafficked locations.

Here's what the scanners look like:

Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images