Beginning on Monday, April 21, 2008, travelers passing through Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport will have the option of self-selecting the security lane at which they want to be screened.

Airport authorities and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have partnered up to bring the TSA’s ‘Black Diamond-Expert Rider’ Self-Select initiative to Houston’s oldest commercial airport. Based on each traveler’s needs and knowledge, signage for this program directs passengers to one of three categorized lanes.

Those who travel several times a month and are familiar with the screening process – business travelers, for example – are directed to use the Expert lane. Individuals who travel less frequently, but who are still familiar with the security process are designated as Casual travelers. Passengers traveling with children, elderly people or who may need special assistance are considered Family/Special Assistance travelers.

The term ‘Black Diamond’ comes from the signs used in skiing to denote skill level suggested for specific runs. In that same manner, customizing individual lanes reduces wait times and makes the travel process smoother, TSA officials report. The pilot program for this initiative has been in existence for several weeks now at other airports.

It is being introduced at Hobby Airport as the ‘Black Diamond-Expert Rider’ initiative because of its success so far. Expert Rider is the name used to identify the program at Hobby.

"These dedicated lanes increase security by calming the checkpoint environment and giving passengers some control of the process," says Kip Hawley, TSA administrator. “These dedicated lanes increase security by calming passengers and allowing behavior detection officers to more easily identify suspicious activity.”

For airport manager Mary Case, it is also an opportunity to introduce another passenger amenity. Over the last two consecutive years Hobby Airport has been selected as the number one airport in the country for customer satisfaction among smaller airports by J.D. Power and Associates.