Leigh Fisher Associates (LFA) has been providing physical, financial, and business consulting services to the Broward County Aviation Department (BCAD) for more than 15 years. In early 2002, BCAD requested LFA's assistance in (1) determining the implications of the new Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) on terminal facilities at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and (2) identifying required facility changes.

LFA provided BCAD staff with a detailed review of ATSA and its implications for the Airport, and discussed the status of evolving regulatory directives, in a workshop setting, which provided the opportunity for discussion of specific issues of interest to the staff.

To assess the effects of ATSA on passenger screening at the Airport, six distinct options for increasing security checkpoint effectiveness and capacity were reviewed and evaluated. The recommended option involves changes to the fundamental layout of the checkpoints and relocation of certain checkpoints to adjacent concourse entrances.

To identify facility changes necessary to accommodate 100% screening of checked baggage, as required by ATSA by December 31, 2002, LFA developed and evaluated more than 10 significantly different conceptual plans. These plans reflected a wide range of facility remodeling requirements and assumptions regarding the level of scrutiny that might be given to checked baggage. Following evaluation and discussion of the plans, it was agreed that the current uncertainty regarding the final federal regulations precluded selection of a specific plan, and that a scenario-based approach involving continued development of several concepts was advisable.

Leigh Fisher Associates is refining four of the discussed concept plans. At the request of BCAD, Leigh Fisher Associates will also meet with representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and the newly formed Transportation Security Administration to coordinate finalization of these plans and to secure early acquisition of needed explosives detection equipment.

Client
Broward County Aviation Department

Services
-Airport Security Planning and Implementation