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Anikka Dibene Transforms a Travel Slip-Up Into Stand Out Service
Anikka Dibene (she/her) with TSA was nominated by Lisa, a PDX traveler.
"Anikka took what could have been a very time consuming and complex task and simplified it. She was kind, gracious, and humble beyond measure. She was responsive and prompt and, even though she was about to go on a break, she did the task herself to make sure that it happened. I am so thankful for Anikka.
When I asked if I could buy her a coffee gift card, she politely declined, sharing that she had made a similar mistake to mine before. I imagine she inspires people to pay it forward, which both my son and I are doing. Thanks, Anikka, for making PDX a one-of-a-kind airport."
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What's New with PDX Next: Information Booths, B/C Checkpoint and Lower Roadway
Information Booths: Crews are installing new air handling units in the mechanical spaces behind the information booths in baggage claim. The north information booth will be closed Monday, June 2, through Friday, Aug. 8, and the south information booth will be closed Monday, June 2, through Friday, Aug. 22. The pedestrian door closest to each location will also be closed. During this time, VIPs will use the south welcome booth. The north welcome booth will also be staffed with VIPs unless there is a greeter group using the space.
B/C Checkpoint: On Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28, crews will shift the construction wall on the secure side of the B/C checkpoint. Employees exiting the sterile area should use the Concourse Connector instead of the bypass doors to reduce congestion in the area. These walls will be in place through January 2026.
Lower Roadway: On Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28, all lanes on the lower roadway and access to the transportation plaza will be closed briefly from 1 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. as escalators for the Phase 2 exits are delivered. From 1:15 a.m. to 1:45 a.m., the inner lower roadway lane will remain closed, and traffic will be diverted to the upper roadway. Additionally, the lower north sidewalk will be blocked for two hours and personnel will monitor the security boundary.
Looking for more PDX Next information? We're keeping you in the know on what's new on the PDX People website. Have questions or suggestions about construction? Email hello@pdxnext.com or call the construction hotline at 503.460.4339.
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Help Steer Transit at PDX and Get Entered to Win a $50 Gift Card
We want to hear about your daily commute, your interest in an employee transit pass program, and what could make getting to and from work easier for the PDX People community. The survey takes just five minutes, is open through the end of May, and by completing it, you’ll be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card!
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What's It Like to Run a PDX Pop-up? Ask Missionary Chocolates
When we announced the launch of our new pop-up program in the main terminal in 2023, Missionary Chocolates and Orox Leather were the first local businesses to secure a spot. Missionary founder Melissa Berry, who is also a naturopathic physician, started making gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free chocolates in 2008, and has sold her chocolates at farmers markets and her NE Glisan storefront since 2011. She partnered with Josie Hartman, another local entrepreneur, to expand their business at PDX. Missionary Chocolates’ pop-up store, which opened in August 2024, will operate until early 2026. We met up with Melissa and Josie to get their insights on what future pop-up participants should know as we prepare to open the program for applications once again.
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Disaster Drill, Real Results
Last Wednesday, we held our triennial disaster drill, aka PDX Resilience, designed to test our airport emergency plan and family assistance plan. In addition to the large response out on the runway, we also activated the Emergency Operations Center and opened a Friends and Relatives Center to support those affected by the mock incident.
Even though we call it a "drill" or an "exercise," we also do everything we can to ensure everything is as realistic as possible. This included enlisting help from Cascadia Moulage, a disaster make-up visual effects team, who covered about 70 volunteer actors with simulated injuries.
We also had help from many regional partners that we’d work with in a real disaster situation – United Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board, as well as American Medical Response, Multnomah County Medical Examiner, and the American Red Cross.
All in all, this exercise was a great success and good opportunity for continuous learning and improvement to our preparedness plans and procedures. A full-scale thanks to all our partners, especially the Port and PDX folks who participated – as players, as volunteers, as exercise support, and as observers. Y’all brought real skill to this faux event!
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Short-Term Garage Achieves Parksmart Certification
Parksmart certification is a little like LEED for parking garages and highlights a variety of our environmental efforts. Among them: Energy efficient lighting that’s motion sensor controlled; natural ventilation and a green wall that’s both pretty to look at and adds oxygen; free EV chargers for travelers; a parking guidance system (those helpful red and green lights) that quickly indicate available spots; and advance pay kiosks so there's less time idling in line to exit. Big thanks to everyone who found the documentation to prove the decades-old structure met Parksmart requirements and was eligible for this recognition.
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PDX in Pictures
Earlier this month, the 18th and final cassette of PDX’s mass timber roof slid into place, marking a major construction milestone that was two and a half years in the making. Now that the roof is in place, the work continues on the final 30% that will open in 2026 – that means installing glass panels, building out concessions, installing trees, and finishing the permanent exit lanes.
A fun fact: The roughly 400,000 square foot new roof is seismically resilient and supported only by the 34 Y-columns. There's a seismic isolation bearing at the top of each column arm, allowing the roof to move up to 24" relative to the floor in a major event without damage, and return to its original position afterwards.
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