Passengers will see a new way through security at Reagan National Airport starting Tuesday at 4 a.m. It launches as air traveler traffic is picking up to nearly 30,000 passengers a day at DCA and that's expected to increase with the busy holiday season just weeks away.

The two new 50,000-square-foot screening areas were needed because passenger traffic (before the pandemic) was 60% above the designed capacity for Terminals B/C.

The upgrade is part of the $1 billion Project Journey, which also added a new 14-gate concourse that opened in April.

"To say the least, things were tight," Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority CEO Jack Potter said at a ribbon-cutting last month.

The current setup has 20 security lanes spread out over Terminals B and C, but the two new security halls will have 13 lanes in the north building and 10 lanes in the south building. There's room to add five more lanes if necessary.

The Transportation Security Agency will mark 20 years at DCA on Nov. 19, but the airport was never built with this much security infrastructure in mind, so the TSA had to put screening lanes wherever they could squeeze them in.

For the first time, TSA will have specially-designed and dedicated space. Scott Johnson, TSA Federal Security Director at DCA, says passengers will still get the quick access that passengers expect.

"I think it's going to get better," Johnson said of the speed of getting through security. "We'll provide the same expeditious screening as we've done in the past, but then you'll have the entire National Hall open after security."

The new setup puts the National Hall behind security, meaning passengers can freely roam through most of the airport once they've gone through security. Before, they only had access to their specific terminal. Airport officials hope that means people can spread out before a flight instead of crowding at gates.

Note, travelers flying out of Terminal A (Gates 1-9) will see no change as they'll use the existing security screening checkpoints in that area.

Airport officials say they have plenty of maps, signs, and employees ready to help people figure out the new configuration.

Here's an FAQ on how to navigate the new security process.

How do I get to my gate now if I take Metro?

You can exit the Metro station on either side to get to either the north or the south screening area. If you need to check a bag you'll head upstairs to ticketing before heading back downstairs to security. If you're flying American you can check-in and check a bag in the new north security screening area. If you're flying Delta you can check-in and check a bag in the south security area. Other airlines including United are still located upstairs. Once through security, you'll go through a hall to get to the National Hall and on to your gate. (See the green lines on the map).

How do I get to my gate if I get dropped off?

The passenger departure area is on the top floor, so you either stay on that level if you need to check-in or bag check or you can head straight downstairs to security and then to your gate.

How do I get to my gate if I use the Terminal B/C parking garages?

Pretty much the same way as you go if you were coming through Metro. (See the green lines on the map).

How do I get to Terminal A (Southwest, Frontier, Air Canada flights) from Metro?

Exit on the south side of the Metro platform and continue to the south security hall. Don't go through security there, but follow signs for Gates 1-9. You'll go through a non-secure hallway to the regular Terminal A security area. (See the blue line on the map).

What is behind security and what is not?

Pretty much everything now. The grand glass-lined National Hall, which used to be open to the public, will be behind security. Ticketing on the top floor and baggage claim on the bottom floor is not a secure area. The historic lobby, which is in between Terminals B/C and Terminal A remains open to the public.

What else do I need to know?

The Transportation Security Agency has given passengers more room to put their shoes back on and gather themselves after security. They also have new 3D modeling security scanners. The new equipment makes a 3D scan that allows security agents to move the model around on the screen and get a better look at it before deciding if it needs a bag check.

Some lanes will have a touchless check-in with TSA where passengers put their ID in a machine and they don't need to scan their boarding pass.

Both halls have lanes for TSA Precheck and CLEAR passengers.

Video Walkthrough

Kristin Clarkson, one of the spokespeople for the Airports Authority, gives WAMU reporter Jordan Pascale a walkthrough of what passengers can expect going from Metro through the new security area.

This story is from DCist.com, the local news site of WAMU.

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