MAYOR HAHN, COUNCILMEMBER MISCIKOWSKI RELEASE RESULTS OF RAND SECURITY STUDY OF LAX
Faster check-in, improved screening are recommended for short-term improvements

(Los Angeles, California -- September 24, 2004) Mayor Jim Hahn and City Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski today announced the results of the first phase of a study by the RAND Corporation on improving airport security and reducing the impact of a potential terrorist attack at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the city department that maintains and oversees LAX and three other Southern California airports, commissioned the study July 2004, at the behest of the City Council. The first phase called for a security analysis of the airport and recommendations for short-term security improvements that could be adopted over the next two years.

“This study is a milestone in the LAX Master Plan process. It provides short-term solutions to security vulnerabilities at LAX. RAND's findings and recommendations are consistent with the issues that have been raised by airport and security officials, and those that we have worked to address through the LAX Master Plan,” said Mayor Hahn. “We know that LAX is a major terrorist target which is why I am committed to working with partners such as RAND to enhance our efforts to improve security at LAX for the hundreds of thousands of passengers, employees and visitors who pass through the airport everyday,” added Mayor Hahn.

The report by the Santa Monica-based research organization concluded that speeding-up passenger check-in at terminal curbside and in the airline ticketing lobbies, and processing passengers more quickly through the security screening stations were the most cost-effective and short-term measures available to improve airport security and to reduce the impact of a potential terrorist attack.

The study will be made available to City Councilmembers as they weigh their decision on the LAX Master Plan. “RAND's security study provides LAWA and other decision-makers with information and analysis necessary to assess the threats facing LAX and its vulnerabilities to those threats,” said Councilmember Miscikowski.

In the second phase of the analysis, RAND will review and make recommendations regarding specific projects included within the LAX Master Plan Alternative D. RAND’s analysis will focus on security issues related to both “green lighted” and “yellow lighted” projects, as mandated in the Consensus Plan.

“Councilmembers will benefit from the new security data as they consider the consensus plan, which requires additional studies about vehicular traffic, aviation activity and security before they are asked to consider “yellow-lighted” projects, while critical modernization projects move forward,” said Councilmember Miscikowski. “Over the long-term, RAND's analysis and participation in security planning related to these projects will ensure that the City Council and the public will be provided good information upon which to make informed decisions with regard to future security improvements.”

The study estimated that increasing the number of airline check-in and federal security screening workers by just five percent could reduce passenger lines by 80 percent and similarly reduce casualties should terrorists detonate a luggage bomb in a crowded check-in area. 

RAND also strongly recommends that LAWA establish permanent vehicle checkpoints to screen all vehicles that enter the airport’s terminal areas. RAND suggests that such an effort would significantly reduce the risk of a car or truck bomb and its related damage. Additional recommendations include:
• Enhancing airport personnel background checks and screening to address threats to aircraft;
• Working with local and federal agencies to mitigate threats beyond LAWA's control, such as cargo inspections;
• Continuing to develop and implement plans to address the impact of an attack on airport operations; and
• Continuing to work with national and international airport security organizations to raise the level of security across the industry. 

In response to the study's recommendations LAWA’s Interim Executive Director Kim Day said, “We agree with many of RAND’s findings and have been at work since September 11, 2001, on decreasing our vulnerabilities. Our primary objective is to provide for the personal safety of everyone who passes through LAX. Projects such as enhancement of our perimeter fence and in-line baggage screening are right in line with RAND’s recommendations.”

RAND researchers worked with local and federal law enforcement and aviation security officials to develop the report.

“We think this report provides a good start to improving security at LAX and provides a basis for moving on to a second-phase study that will look at long-term security issues at the airport,” said Don Stevens, the RAND senior analyst who led the study. “We look forward to working with airport officials on the next phase of this project.”