Cantwell Backs Tri-Cities Airport’s Grant Request to Upgrade Baggage Screening
In letter, Senator says upgrades needed to keep up with growth in demand
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in support of the Port of Pasco’s application for a $3.8 million grant to upgrade the baggage screening system at the Tri-Cities Airport as it prepares for future growth.
Tri-Cities Airport seeks to install an inline explosives detection baggage screening system to accommodate growth in passenger demand. Tri-Cities Airport is undergoing a $41.5 million expansion that will double the size of its current terminal and modernize the airport’s ticketing and baggage areas. The project is scheduled to be completed in January 2017.
“The Tri-Cities Airport is a major regional transportation asset in the State of Washington serving more than one million residents living in communities in southeast Washington and northeast Oregon,” wrote Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Operations and Security, in the letter. “This airport is the gateway to the Tri-Cities region, is a key contributor to the economic vitality of the region, and provides direct air service to eight major airport hubs throughout the U.S.”
“In just the last five years, the Tri-Cities Airport has experienced a 50 percent increase in passenger boardings, serving more than 331,000 passengers annually,” Cantwell said in the letter. “In the next 10 years, passenger enplanements are expected to increase to nearly 500,000.”
At a Senate Aviation Subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Cantwell secured assurance from TSA Acting Administrator Melvin Carraway that TSA considers grant applications from both smaller and larger commercial airports.
“Typically we want to make sure that the planning up front is fully done and in many cases there happens to be many changes that occur,” Carraway said. “We are constantly engaged with FAA on any changes that occur and we keep in mind our budget in regards to that.”
The Tri-Cities Airport provides local air service to more than one million residents living in southeast Washington and northeast Oregon.
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Full text of letter:
The Honorable Jeh C. Johnson
Secretary,
US Department of Homeland Security
Nebraska Ave. Center, NW
Washington, D.C. 20528
The Honorable Melvin Carraway
Acting Administrator,
Transportation Security Administration
601 S. 12th Street
Arlington, VA 22202
Subject: Tri-Cities Airport Terminal Building Expansion Project, Pasco, WA (PSC)
Dear Secretary Johnson and Acting Administrator Carraway:
I write today to express my strong support for a $3.8 million Inline EDS CBIS baggage screening funding request submitted to the TSA by the Port of Pasco and the Tri-Cities Airport.
The Tri-Cities Airport is a major regional transportation asset in the State of Washington serving more than one million residents living in communities in southeast Washington and northeast Oregon. This airport is the gateway to the Tri-Cities region, is a key contributor to the economic vitality of the region, and provides direct air service to eight major airport hubs throughout the U.S.
In just the last five years, the Tri-Cities Airport has experienced a 50% increase in passenger boardings, serving more than 331,000 passengers annually. In the next 10 years, passenger enplanements are expected to increase to nearly 500,000.
Because the current terminal building is grossly undersized for the number of passengers using the airport today, construction of a $41.5 million terminal expansion project began in September 2014 and is projected to be completed by January 2017. This project will double the size of the current terminal to 110,000 square feet and modernize the airport’s ticketing and baggage areas. The current construction period provides the most cost effective time to install an Inline EDS baggage screening system to enhance safety and baggage handling capacity in the airport, and I urge you to give this funding request your full support.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
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