Comparative Security Analysis of Alternative D and the No Action/No Project Alternative

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) recently completed an analysis of Alternative D and the No Action/No Project (NA/NP) Alternative. SAIC concluded that the Alternative D is overwhelmingly the better security plan. Alternative D is a forward thinking plan that has the ability to build in flexibility to meet current and future security needs and to incorporate future technologies as they are developed. It disperses the means of entering the airport to several areas that are away from the critical airport infrastructure. This configuration decreases the impact and therefore probability of a terrorist action on any one area while allowing for multiple levels of security checks. Additionally Alternative D eliminates all uninspected vehicles from the Central Terminal Area (CTA). The NA/NP Alternative significantly limits the airport's security capability primarily due to the existing design and space limitations.

Specific security advantages of Alternative D are:

• Provides for multiple layers of security protection.
  
  
  • At the landside access points of the airport (Ground Transportation Center (GTC), Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC), Consolidated Rental Car Facility (RAC) and the FlyAway Terminals) Alternative D provides for the flexibility to conduct the screening of all airport users including passengers and their bags as well as "meeters/greeters," guests and visitors. This flexibility allows for the increased possibility of detecting bombs and weapons before they could be transported to the "center of mass" of the airport (the CTA).
    
    
  • The final passenger and baggage screening for any aircraft threatening weapons and explosives would be conducted In the CTA.
    
    
  • No uninspected vehicles would be permitted to enter the CTA. Only approved emergency vehicles and inspected commercial vehicles that have a purpose for being there would be able to use the existing CTA roadways.
    
    
  • Green Line trains and vehicles approaching the GTC would be screened by remote camera systems to identify unusual behavior or stolen vehicles.

• Eliminates the High Concentrations of People as a Potential Terrorist Target. By moving the arrival and departure passengers rapidly through the airport entry points, only small numbers of people would be clustered as a potential terrorist target where a large vehicle explosive device could be delivered.

• Eliminates Roadway Traffic in the CTA. By eliminating all passenger associated traffic on the existing CTA roadways and inspecting all truck and commercial traffic, Alternative D significantly reduces the chance of an oversized vehicle explosive device being delivered in the CTA. Additionally, it provides a secure environment for people utilizing the CTA and creates a clear and visible zone for law enforcement personnel.

• Permits Observation and Assessment of Passengers and Baggage. Alternative D permits early security screening initially at the choke points entering the airport property, then at the GTC, ITC, RAC and FlyAway Terminals.

• Permits Advanced Security Design and Engineering. Redesign and relocation of roadways and the opportunity to design "green field" facilities for entry nodes into the airport allows LAX to build in security improvements taking advantage of available technology and increased space.

• Permits Less Commercial Traffic on the CTA Roadways. Eliminating all but prescreened FlyAway vehicles and inspected commercial vehicles on the CTA roadways, nearly eliminates the chance of the terrorist's traditional choice of weapon, the vehicle bomb, not unlike what was used at Oklahoma City.

Similarly, some of the significant security disadvantages of the NA/NP Project Alternative are:

• Roadway Congestion. The NA/NP Alternative does not eliminate roadway congestion in the area of the CTA that is a serious security concern as well as an operational concern.

• Unrestricted Vehicle Access. The NA/NP Alternative allows vehicular traffic to approach vital infrastructure facilities within the CTA. This includes passenger or visitor vehicles as well as multiple shuttle vehicles and general public access.

• Screening is Limited to that done by Transportation Security Administration. Under the NA/NP Alternative, there is no screening of personnel or baggage arriving or entering the CTA leaving much of the CTA vulnerable to terrorist actions.

• Lack of Physical Space for Security Processing. There is little available space to expand security processing if increased security measures are mandated or necessary to ensure passenger and facility safety.

While recognizing that the every potential threat to the airport cannot be fully mitigated, Alternative D allows the police and security forces at LAX to better identify and assess potential threats and to respond significantly earlier than the No Action/No Project Alternative. Alternative D provided the capability to incorporate new security technologies and capabilities beyond that possible in an existing operating terminal. Alternative D is a far superior security plan.

Security Report