Airport, ferry, rail security is boosted

Published 9:00 pm Monday, September 10, 2001

By Kate Reardon and Warren Cornwall

Herald Writers

Air traffic, ferry service and railways boosted security and safety measures following the apparent terrorist attacks this morning on the East Coast.

All airports canceled flights. Washington State Ferries was operating but only allowing foot passengers on most routes. Amtrak and Burlington Northern Santa Fe halted services for as long as four hours this morning to check tracks and rail cars. Both train services were expected to resume service today.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport spokesman Bob Parker said airport security cleared this morning all concourses of passengers so bomb-sniffing dogs could perform a security sweep. Some midair flights had been rerouted to the Seattle airport, but the Federal Aviation Administration closed the central Puget Sound area to any further arriving flights.

The Coast Guard requested cars that be restricted from ferries because of the possibility of car bombs, said Linda Mullen, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

Snohomish County’s Community Transit tried to help carless passengers make it to destinations. Everett Transit and Island Transit worked with The Boeing Co. to transport Boeing workers who had brought their cars on ferries earlier in the day.