Reagan National Airport Opens Two New Security Checkpoint Buildings
- 50,000-square-foot facilities replace three smaller screening areas, providing more room for passengers and TSA staff and significant additional post-security space
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), opened two newly constructed 50,000-square-foot security checkpoint buildings Tuesday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
John E. Potter, president and CEO of the Airports Authority, said:With the opening of these new security checkpoints, we welcome passengers to a new level of convenience and customer service at Reagan National Airport. The new checkpoints will streamline the path of many of the airport’s passengers, offering them more post-security space to dine, shop and relax prior to their fight, in addition to opening new pathways for passengers with connecting flights at Reagan National.
The new checkpoint buildings are connected to walkways that serve Terminal Parking Garages B and C, as well as the airport’s Metrorail station, with multiple escalators and elevators providing connections to the ticketing and baggage claim levels. Inside the buildings, 23 screening lanes will replace the airport’s existing 20 screening lanes, with the ability to expand to 28 lanes. Additionally, each new checkpoint has two restrooms, American and Delta airline check-in kiosks and checked bag drop off, and 1,000 square feet of concessions space, which will open in the future.
Scott T. Johnson, TSA’s federal security director for the airport, said:The checkpoints are much more spacious so that they have increased capacity and allow TSA officers to process travelers more comfortably and efficiently than previous space limitations allowed. Additionally, the location of the new checkpoints enables travelers to move between dozens of gates and airport shops, restaurants and other amenities without needing to be re-screened.
The design of the new checkpoint buildings, like the new concourse, complements the existing terminal architecture – featuring exposed steel, a curvilinear roof structure and large windows made of electrochromic glass that can transform from fully transparent to 99-percent opaque to control the amount of heat and sunlight that enters the buildings to help optimize the new structure’s environmental performance. Project Journey includes many other features in accordance with the airport’s focus on sustainability, such as energy-efficient lighting, heat-reflective roofing materials and electric vehicle infrastructure and underground jet fueling systems to avoid emissions from trucks.
Limited concessions will be available in the public areas of each new checkpoint building while the construction of WH Smith Cafes continues. Passengers traveling on Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue and United who have cleared security will be able to access all airport concessions between Gates 10 and 59. A complete list of shops and restaurants, including five that opened in the new 14-gate concourse, is available on the shopping and dining information webpage. Passengers traveling on Southwest and other airlines using Gates 1 through 9 in Terminal A will continue to use the existing security checkpoint facilities in Terminal A.
A new webpage posted to flyreagan.com explains the changes in wayfinding passengers can familiarize themselves with before traveling. Roadway travel patterns, including curbside drop-off and pick-up options for private vehicles, taxis and ride app services remain unchanged for all airlines at Terminals A, B and C.
The opening of the new checkpoint buildings for Terminal B/C marks the final major milestone toward the completion of Project Journey, the airport’s $1 billion capital improvement program. A new 14-gate concourse, replacing the busing operation at Gate 35X, began serving passengers in April.
Even with the opening of the new checkpoints, work continues in the final phases of Project Journey, as the current Terminal B/C checkpoints and the escalators and elevators that connected the ticketing and concourse levels will be removed, making way for new shops, restaurants, restrooms and seating areas. In addition, passengers will continue to see work taking place on the airport roadways, around the exterior of the new concourse and on the baggage claim level of the terminal.
Potter, continued:We appreciate our passengers’ patience and understanding over the past few years, and in the months to come, during the construction process as we make improvements to substantially enhance our customers’ experience. Once all this work is complete, we believe passengers will find the inconveniences to have been well worth it as we continue building the airport of the future to serve the National Capital Region.
For more information about Project Journey, visit flyreagan.com/projectjourney.
This article was originally published by Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
