Logan to add technology to tell passengers how long TSA wait is

As TSA security checkpoint lines steadily grow across the country as a result of the partial government shutdown, Logan airport has announced it is installing technology that will let passengers check TSA wait times before departing for the airport.

The system, which debuts in mid-April, will post wait times on Logan’s website, smartphone app, and airline apps. Eventually, there will be screens at TSA checkpoints and other pre- and post-departure display boards that show the information as well.

The move is particularly timely because the TSA has stopped regularly updating airport wait times due to the partial government shutdown. Its app (MyTSA) still provides wait-time information for Logan and other airports, but it is no longer actively monitored.

“We’re trying to give people information about what to expect when they get to Logan,” said Rich Davey, CEO of Massport. “It’s part of our overall strategy to improve the customer experience. We’re about a month, maybe five weeks away from launching it.”

Instead of relying on information from the TSA, the system at Logan, which is being installed by a third-party vendor, will use cameras to monitor line length and speed and transmit that information in real time. Those cameras don’t record details or characteristics of individuals in line; instead, they record them as nondescript forms, which they can then translate into data.

A graphic illustration shows how Logan airport's new TSA line tracker will work.Handout

The system is currently being tested in Terminal B, and if trials prove successful, it will then be rolled out to the rest of the airport next month. Similar systems are already in place at airports such as Denver International Airport and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Across the country, some travelers have been waiting up to two hours to clear security. The slowdowns are due to the partial government shutdown, which began Feb. 14. Last week, roughly 50,000 TSA employees missed their first paycheck; as a result, 300 agents resigned, and call-out rates at airports across the country have been high. The shutdown is a result of a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Logan has seen weather-related delays, but it has yet to experience the long TSA-related lines that have plagued some other airports.

“We’ve been fortunate,” Davey said. “Obviously, that probably won’t go on forever because at some point these folks are going to need to get a second job or get a job that pays. But so far they continue to come to work.”

Additionally, Logan is still on track to roll out its new TSA “remote terminal” for passengers taking Logan Express from Framingham. Passengers would be able to go through TSA screening in Framingham before boarding a secure bus to Logan. That program is slated to start June 1.

“Even with the current TSA shutdown, we are full steam ahead,” Davey said.

Christopher Muther can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @Chris_Muther and Instagram @chris_muther.