Limo drivers can access airport gates and make Houston some money, too
KPRC-2 has posted a story about Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports allowing limousine drivers to meet arriving passengers at the gate.
The video KPRC has with the story explains that the drivers had to pass background checks before they could be issued the special badge that gives them access to gate areas. Here's more in a press release from Houston Airports:
The local Limousine Drivers & Owners Association voted unanimously to accept a thorough background and criminal history evaluation that includes fingerprinting before receiving badges that are valid at both Bush Intercontinental and Hobby. Their names are checked against a variety of databases generated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
A limousine driver who gets a badge must go through the same metal detector and pass his or her belongings through the same screening device as a ticketed passenger.
Criminal offenses within the last 10 years disqualify applicants in accordance with TSA regulations. More than 650 drivers have received badges and only two percent were rejected. Limousine drivers who do not have a badge may drop passengers off at the airport, but may not pick them up, Mancuso said.
“Houston is one of the few cities, if not the only city, that is doing this,” Mancuso said. “It’s in keeping with Mayor White’s commitment to excellence in customer service while remaining as forward-thinking as we can be about security.”
I love that sentence about this program being in keeping with Mayor White's commitment to excellent customer service and forward-thinking security. Mayor White also has quite a commitment to finding new revenue streams!
The KPRC video notes that the badges cost $45 each and are good for two years. So, 650 drivers received badges at $45 each which equals $29,250 for the city of Houston. And that revenue stream is renewable every two years.
And let's all hope that the background checks used on the limousine drivers is more effective than the one used on $AFEclear drivers.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/08/05 01:26 PM | Print |
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