By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation
The two billion dollar remodel of the Portland International airport has begun to open up to the public.
For beauty, aesthetic and scale this is impressive.
This remodel fulfilled one of our chief taxpayer concerns, which is installing the new high-tech luggage scanners. These new high-tech scanners mean Portlanders will not have to remove their laptops or small travel liquids when they are going through TSA screening. These new scanners also allow three passengers at-a-time to load the luggage conveyor belt from three different stations on the same line — instead of the traditional one person at-a-time.
The front ticket desks allow people to self-check in checked luggage at a self-serve station where they can load their own luggage onto a contraption that sends your luggage off to the plane. This means you no longer need to see an agent to check-in your luggage.
One of the more interesting features is a new bleacher section for people awaiting for their family and friends to arrive.
We are happy with the new efficiency measures, but as taxpayers we are mindful that much of the two billion makeover came out of ticket taxes on our flights.