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Massport Board Approves Funding for Major Safety and Security Projects

at Boston Logan International Airport

$140 Million Will Help Build Second Generation Baggage Screening System

WORCESTER – The Massachusetts Port Authority Board today gave the go-ahead for a capital improvement project that will replace and optimize the checked baggage screening system at Boston Logan International Airport, which is nationally recognized for its leadership in aviation security.

The project, which includes a Transportation Security Administration grant of nearly $68 million, will replace the nation’s first major in-line baggage screening system with second generation equipment designed to improve efficiency and allow for smarter deployment of security resources. Massport will spend about $22 million on renovating and building new screening rooms. Another $50 million will go to new screening equipment, bringing to total project cost to $140 million.

“Working closely with our TSA partners, both here at Logan and in Washington, Massport has designed a new system that provides significant efficiencies and redundancies using the latest, second-generation detection technologies and conveying equipment available,’’ said Interim CEO David S. Mackey, “Airline industry consolidation has also given Massport an opportunity to consolidate baggage screening operations into fewer rooms, reducing staff, equipment and utility requirements.’’

“Massport is to be commended for their ongoing investment and forward-leaning approach to security. These technology upgrades will streamline the baggage screening process and will free up more of our resources for frontline security functions and pilot programs designed to create a more risk-based, intelligence-driven security environment,” said George Naccara, TSA Federal Security Director at Boston Logan International Airport.

The construction and renovation will occur over the next three years and generate the equivalent of 67 full time construction jobs and 20 fulltime design and engineering jobs during that time. The project will consolidate 11 separate baggage viewing rooms into one centralized facility. Improvements in baggage track design will increase efficiency and system reliability and ergonomic enhancements, such as roll off roll on equipment will help TSA agents who examine bags identified in the screening process.

The new system will have second generation scanning equipment funded by the TSA and the machines will allow for more bags to be screened each hour.

In other action, the Board, which met at Worcester Regional Airport, voted to buy the 12th Vammas for Logan’s award-winning snow and ice control program. The new Vammas will have a 24-foot plow, a 23-foot broom and 250 mph blower and is a critical part of Logan’s snow phalanx. A team of the machines can clear a 10,000 foot long and 175 foot wide runway of snow in about 15 minutes. The new machine will replace a 1986 Oshkosh 27-foot plow spreader. The Oshkosh truck will be added to Worcester Regional Airport’s snow equipment. Boston Logan has won the Balchen/Post award for the best snow removal in the nation three times in the last seven years.

Massport receives no state tax funding and is governed by a seven member Board. Six of the members are appointed to staggered seven-year terms by the Governor of Massachusetts, and the Secretary of Transportation serves as an ex officio member.

Boston Logan, 15 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 70 domestic and 32 international destinations and in 2010 handled 27.4 million passengers. Boston Logan is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, the airport spent $4.5 billion on a modernization program that includes new terminals, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility. The airport generates $7 billion in total economic impact each year.

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The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates Boston Logan International Airport, the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion annually, and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. No state tax dollars are used to fund operations or capital improvements at Massport facilities.

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