SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has agreed to establish a pre-check enrollment center at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, giving local air travelers more access to the TSA’s “expedited” security-screening program.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) made the announcement in a news release issued Thursday. The Democrat’s office tells BJNN in an email that it isn’t sure when the TSA will start operating the new pre-check center.

Establishing the enrollment center at Hancock will make it “easier” for residents of Syracuse and the surrounding towns to sign up for the pre-check program, Schumer contends.

The program provides faster security screenings for low-risk travelers. Those who are approved for the program no longer need to remove their shoes, laptop from their bag, light jacket, or belt, according to the TSA.

 In March, Schumer wrote to TSA Acting Administrator Melvin Carraway, urging the TSA to establish a pre-check center at Hancock.

Schumer noted that both Rochester and Albany have local pre-check enrollment centers, and “Syracuse should have one too.”

“With this new enrollment center, Syracuse travelers will no longer have to travel 40 minutes up the road to register for the TSA Pre-Check program. This center will allow more travelers to sign up for the program, shorten security lines, and make traveler’s days a lot less stressful,” Schumer said in the release. “Syracuse Hancock International Airport is a major hub for business and leisure travelers alike. Putting an enrollment center within the confines of the airport would make a really big difference.”

Local travelers previously had to drive 40 minutes north to Oswego to register for the program, Schumer said. That office is only open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Schumer said the “long drive and difficult hours made it hard” for frequent travelers from Syracuse to sign up.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com