It’s a common frustration: you drive to the airport to pick up an arriving traveler only to be told you can’t wait at the curb for the traveler to appear. You wonder, “Why not?”
This week, airport community service officers responsible for keeping the front of MSP’s terminals safe began passing out flyers to drivers at curbside, answering that question and providing alternatives.
The flyers explain: “Strict federal security directives prohibit parked or unattended vehicles on the roadways in front of terminals. Such vehicles pose a potential threat from concealed explosive devices and may be ticketed and towed. Parking at the curb is allowed only long enough to drop off or pick up waiting travelers and their luggage. At no time can a vehicle be left unattended. Although inconvenient, your compliance helps maintain a safe and secure airport environment for everyone.”
The handout also lists alternatives to driving in circles on the airport roadway, waiting for a traveler to emerge from the terminal:
- Drive to the nearby cell phone lot on Post Road, where you can relax and wait for a phone call from travelers announcing they are at the curb and ready to be picked up.
- Park in a short-term ramp and greet arriving travelers in person at pre-security coffee shops located on Baggage Claim at both terminals or at the Houlihan’s restaurant in the Lindbergh Terminal ticketing lobby.
“We want people to understand when they are asked to move from the curb that we are simply enforcing regulations meant to keep everyone at the airport safe,” said MSP Airport Police Chief Mark Rosenow. “If people know the rules up front, they can make appropriate arrangements with travelers ahead of time and avoid getting a citation or wasting fuel circling the airport roadway. With understanding and a little pre-planning, we can all do our part to keep MSP safe.”
Contacts:
Metropolitan Airports Commission
Patrick Hogan, 612-726-5335
