travelnews: Portland Airport

[Carolyn Wooley <cwooley@oregon.uoregon.edu>]

Please pass this message along to your travellers who use the Portland
Airport.

PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BEGINS TSA-MANDATED VEHICLE INSPECTIONS ON
ROADWAYS 


In accordance with security mandates from the Transportation Security
Administration, Portland International Airport (PDX) has begun random
security inspections of vehicles traveling to the terminal building area.
The inspections come in response to the recently heightened national
"Orange" threat level. Law enforcement officers will use a traffic signal
to stop vehicles on Airport Way as motorists approach the airport. Then,
permission will be asked of motorists for a visual inspection of randomly
selected vehicles. Motorists who refuse the inspection will be asked to
turn around and exit the airport, or turn around and park their cars in
long-term or economy parking facilities.  They can use a shuttle bus to
reach the terminal building from either lot, or walk from long-term
parking. Motorists who refuse the inspection will not be allowed to access
the parking garage or roadway in front of the terminal. 

While exact inspection procedures are confidential for security reasons,
most inspections will take less than one minute per vehicle. However,
motorists should give themselves an extra 10-15 minutes to reach the
airport to allow for the inspection program. The program is part of
similar nationwide efforts, and there is no known specific threat related
to PDX. All parking facilities are open and offer ample parking. The
Airport MAX Red Line is another option for traveling to and from the
airport.


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