DENVER -- It's not easy beefing up airport security while improving efficiency, but that just what the Transportation Security Administration is trying to do at Denver International Airport.

TSA Administrator Kip Hawley toured the airport with Colorado Rep. Ed Perlmutter Monday and announced two pilot programs to improve security and efficiency.

One would apply ski slope designations (black diamond, blue square, or green circle) to three security lines in the checkpoint area of the north terminal.

Passengers can choose which line to enter based on how fast they think they can get through without slowing down others.

The black diamond is for people like business travelers who can zip through without being told to remove shoes, belts and jewelry.

The blue square is for regular passengers with a bag or two, and the green circle is for families and people who prefer to take more time getting through security.

A similar program is already in operation in Salt Lake City. TSA officials say it seems to be working smoothly.

"I don't know if I like it," said passenger Jennifer Eastman, who was traveling with her young son. "I will probably jump in that line (blue) and cheat a little."

The ski slope designation program begins Wednesday at DIA.

The other pilot program will provide for random screening of airport employees.

"You could say let's stop everyone who works at the airport and go through their lunchbox looking for dangerous objects," Hawley said. "But to take resources away from a security checkpoint and direct them to an area where people have already undergone significant background checks may not make sense."

Hawley added, "I think a prudent security measure is one that is balanced, (with this random program) you can never be sure you're not going to be screened."

The TSA head said, “You never want to sit still, you always want to innovate.” So in addition to random employee screening, there will be training, biometric credentialing, and two, what he called, wild card security measures to help keep the airport safe.

"We want to make DIA as secure as possible, without bringing travel to a halt," Perlmutter said.

Perlmutter first contacted the TSA last summer when passengers experienced very long lines at DIA.

“We were waiting 45 or 50 minutes in Denver and only four minutes at Chicago O’Hare. Something was wrong,” Perlmutter said.

TSA added a few more security officers and realigned work shifts to cover both the morning and afternoon rush.

“Over the holiday season, there were more than 660,000 people who came through the airport. Ninety-eight percent of them had waits of less than 20 minutes,” Hawley said.

After touring the airport, Hawley helped swear-in 40 new TSA security officers.

There are between 700 and 750 TSA employees working full time and part time at DIA.