NORWALK, Calif. - An unattended backpack prompted the evacuation of a commuter rail station and shut down nearby freeways Friday before authorities determined it was harmless.

Investigators blew up the backpack and determined it did not contain any explosives, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Mike Herek.

The backpack was reported about 9:30 a.m. and authorities shut down the station and diverted traffic off nearby Interstate 605 and the eastbound car pool lane of I-105, snarling traffic in the southeast county area for hours.

"We want to err on the side of caution because we want to make sure the traveling public stays safe," Herek said.

Investigators were continuing to try to find out who owned the backpack and why it was left at the station.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Green Line is a surface light-rail route running east-west across the southern end of the county. Most of the route is on the median of the 105.

The Sheriff's Department said it has received no threats regarding the area's transit system. But because of heightened awareness since Sept. 11, 2001, and the recent possible terror threat to the New York subway system, authorities said they were staying vigilant.

The sheriff's arson-explosives detail normally receives 10-15 calls a day about suspicious packages, Deputy Oscar Butao said.

"It's just the name of the game in L.A. County," Butao said.

Well, Boss Crotty may want Orange County to look and act like Los Angeles... do you? 

AX the COMMUTER RAIL TAX... www.axthetax.org