"Las Vegas Airport Gets Federal Grant to Help Pay for Baggage Security System"

Friday, August 29, 2003

Las Vegas Airport Gets Federal Grant to Help Pay for Baggage Security System
The Las Vegas (NV) Review-Journal


WASHINGTON--The Transportation Security Administration has agreed to pay
$93.75 million toward an automated baggage screening system at McCarran
International Airport, an upgrade to streamline security and speed travelers
to their flight gates.

Clark County and federal representatives have signed a letter of intent
clearing the way for the homeland security agency to deliver the first of
three installment checks in the coming weeks, officials said.

The Clark County Commission earlier this month approved the first major
contract for segments of the in-line conveyer system that will steer baggage
through explosives-detection equipment in expanded areas behind ticket
counters.

The first phase is expected to finish by next May, benefiting customers of
Southwest Airlines, US Airways, Alaska Airlines and Frontier Airlines,
McCarran spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said.

Grey said those airlines account for 42 percent of the airport's 36
million-passenger annual traffic. Southwest is McCarran's busiest tenant by
far with 30 percent of traffic, more than 10 million annual passengers.

The entire project, costing about $125 million at latest estimate, is
expected to be completed early in 2005, Grey said. The county will complete
financing by tapping bond revenue and the airport's capital fund.

The TSA agreed to defray 75 percent of the cost of installing in-line
baggage screening at key airports, with about 20 airports expected to be
approved for aid. Earlier this summer, the agency announced funding to
Boston Logan International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

When the system is in place at McCarran, the nation's seventh-busiest
passenger airport, traveler-checked luggage will be carried via conveyer
through explosives detectors and steered to manual screening if warranted.

"It will go through all its security screening behind the scenes," Grey
said. "It should make it a lot more efficient and quicker."

The automated system eventually will allow minivan-size explosives detectors
to be removed from the terminal lobby and may allow some TSA screeners to be
reassigned to security checkpoints, Grey said.

Nevada's five federal lawmakers applauded the grant, saying it will help
McCarran boost security while reducing delays at the airport.

"I have been concerned about the screening machines in the ticketing lobby,"
Sen. John Ensign said. "Having thousands of people congregated and waiting
in a crowded lobby only hinders security efforts."


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