DATE: June 19, 2020
TO: All Personnel, LGA, HPN, ISP, SWF
FROM: Robert A. Duffy, Federal Security Director, LGA, HPN, ISP, SWF
SUBJECT: Weekly Update
As I write this weekly update, we have opened the new Terminal B at LGA. The building is tremendous and has all of the newest equipment in the checkpoint. The checked baggage screening area is state of the art and the only inline system of its kind in the US. The baggage belt system is as long as 18 city blocks. It also has 55 robotic tables. The checkpoint is not entirely finished as we still have a number of lanes to complete once the contractor, MacDonald/Humphries, can return to New York from London to complete the work. The company had to leave when the international travel ban went into effect in March. With the lower passenger volume, the current lanes are enough to handle the demand. Once the MacDonald/Humphries team returns, it is expected to take about a month to complete the remaining 7 lanes for a total of 16 lanes.
Since we won’t need all 16 lanes for a while, we plan to conduct pilot programs on the unused lanes to test new equipment and proposed new screening SOPs. As with any new building, we have already identified some areas that need to be addressed to allow for maximum effectiveness and the greatest efficiency. We already have initiated action to address the following concerns:
- We have ordered two KRONOS clocks for the wall to the right of the elevators behind Lanes 1 and 2. Currently, the KRONOS clocks are in the SIDA area, and it is a challenge to get everyone through the SIDA door to clock in or out. By placing the KRONOS clocks in the sterile area behind the checkpoint, clocking in and out will be far easier.
- We have requested ETD machines for the ends of the even numbered lanes. Currently, we only have them at the end of the odd numbered lanes. When an ETD test needs to be conducted on an even numbered lane, the officer must turn their back to the passenger and walk about 8 feet away. That creates obvious concerns which we plan to correct with ETD machines at the end of all lanes.
- We requested divesting tables and/or benches at the end of lanes 1 and 2. There are no designated facilities for passenger re-composure after they complete screening. This results in passengers either standing at the end of the rollers getting themselves put back together and delaying the flow of movement for other passengers, or sitting on the floor between Lanes 1 and 2, which then creates a tripping hazard to other passengers.
- We are also planning to mount a camera outside of the SIDA door at the end of the KCM lane next to Lane 1. That is a solid door with a lot of use. Since there is no window on the door, people leaving the SIDA area behind the door could hit someone in the head who is entering their SIDA code to open the door.
I ask all of you working in the new Terminal B to let us know of other areas we need to address to improve the screening operation, safety and security of the checkpoint. I have seen that the morale of everyone at Terminal B has been lifted by the new building and all that it offers. If you haven’t seen the new terminal, I encourage you to do so. You will be amazed.
As with any new venture, there was a lot of teamwork that went into the opening of the building, and I want to acknowledge all who worked so hard to make the opening so successful. Thank you to the entire training staff. We had to train 260 officers with a total of 12,000 hours of classroom and practical training for all of the new equipment in the new terminal. Training started on March 1, stopped at the end of March due to the pandemic, re-started in May, and finished on time for the opening. Outstanding effort to all of our Training team. Thank you to the Scheduling team. They managed to schedule all 260 officers in Terminal B for the 12,000 hours of new checkpoint training while still maintaining full staffing to screen passengers in the old Terminal B. As if that wasn’t enough, the Scheduling team also conducted the first ever virtual shift bid at LGA so that we will have a new schedule starting July 5. The Scheduling team is currently working on a bid for Managers and Supervisors. Great work to the team. Thank you to Kevin Dowling and the Facilities Services Unit (FSU) for facilitating the move from the old terminal to the new terminal, directing the delivery of new furniture, and then setting up that many rooms with tables, chairs, lockers, training aids, food vending machines, etc., to make the start-up a success. Thank you to Stakeholder Manager Kristen Jonus for coordinating the transition of buildings with TSA-HQ, LGP, PANYNJ, etc., the opening of the checkpoint last Saturday, and the numerous other details she tended to in order for us to have a successful start. Thank you to the Screening leadership for coordinating the events needed to close out screening operations in the old Terminal B and the opening of the new terminal. Thank you to the Rapid Response Team for stepping in late in the game to help finish some of the work started by the FSU, which suddenly stopped when the FSU went into quarantine due to a COVID-19 exposure in the unit. Thank you to Ricardo Mora-Usuga and Ed Harmon for getting all of our IT infrastructure operational in time for the opening. Thank you to the Mission Support team for their behind the scenes support in procurement of required supplies and equipment needed for a successful opening. Thank you to the Regulatory team for reviewing the volumes of ASP amendments over the past 4+ years. Lastly, thank you to all of you now working in Terminal B who went through the training and opened the new screening facilities at the checkpoint and baggage room. Our success in effectively screening passengers and their property is on your shoulders. You have the best and newest equipment and training in the TSA. You have my complete confidence that you will be successful in carrying out the TSA mission at LGA every day.
As great of an opening as we have had so far, we are not finished. We will fine tune the new terminal with the punch list items I described above and we will add to that list of improvements to give you a world class facility to work in. We will now prepare for the opening of the new Terminal C which is about 18-24 months away. We will apply the lessons learned in the planning and opening of the new Terminal B to the new Terminal C. We also expect to see some new equipment in the new Terminal C not available for Terminal B. We are going to open a remote screening room next to Lane 16 in the new Terminal B so the x-ray operators will be out of the lanes and the many distractions that can affect their ability to focus on the images on their screens. This will set the standard for a similar set-up in the new Terminal C.
I lastly want to thank all of you for your dedication and devotion to duty over the past 5 months. Since February, we have been hit with the worst pandemic in 102 years which caused illness to our personnel at LGA and ISP and many of your family members. Sadly, some of your family members passed after being afflicted with the Corona Virus, may they rest in peace. You have all been required to have your work schedules significantly disrupted due to the airlines reducing their schedules or ceasing all flight operations. Your flexibility and willingness to change work hours is greatly appreciated. Those living in New York City have had to endure the closure of the MTA subway from 0100 to 0500 every day which has affected many of you getting to work. Those in New York City have also had to endure the rioting and civil unrest which affected your ability to safely commute to work, and exposed you and your families and friends to significant danger. Through all of this, you have all persevered and pressed on through those challenges.
In talking to many of you over the past months, I am inspired as you continue to keep your heads up, still have a quick smile and a positive attitude as if in defiance of the many events that dampen the spirits of most people. As the highway signs state, you all really are “New York Tough”. You are all very special people, and I am very privileged to serve all of you. Happy Father’s Day to all of our fathers at LGA, ISP, HPN and SWF.
With greatest respect,
FSD Bob Duffy
