Federal Airport Grants To Improve Security Screening Lines At SEA

SEATTLE — More than $37 million in federal grants are headed to Washington to support airport operations on both sides of the Cascades.

According to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), an estimated $16 million from the Federal Aviation Administration will pay for relocating a TSA security checkpoint at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, moving it from the upstairs departure area to the downstairs arrival section, while expanding screening lanes.

Cantwell's office said the new location will better serve people who arrive at the airport by foot or bus, while better serving all departing passengers who often get dropped off on the lower level during peak hours. Officials said that should help speed up security and reduce bottlenecks during the busiest times of the travel day. The federal grant will cover more than half of the project's estimated cost.

SEA welcomed 50 million passengers in the year before the pandemic and remains one of the nation's busiest airports.

"Nobody likes waiting in line at the airport," Cantwell said in a statement. "By relocating checkpoint 1 and adding two more screening lanes, Sea-Tac will increase their capacity to screen 940 passengers per hour."

Another $15 million will fund terminal expansion and renovation projects at the Spokane International Airport, and a little more than $6 million will support expansion work at the Pullman-Moscow International Airport.