The ABIA Master Plan Update establishes three “planning levels” based on annual passenger volume, rather than by year, but even under the “low-growth” scenario, Bergstrom will have reached Level 2 — 13.2 million annual passengers, the level at which we’ll need a second terminal — by 2020. The idea, the planners say, was to recommend a concept that could be built with minimal disruption to day-to-day operations, that could be expanded further over time, that balanced land uses around the 4,200-acre airport site, and that allowed for a second airport entrance.
Level 1 — 11 million passengers.
Total cost estimate: $273 million from city, $259 million from other sources. Highlights include:
A. Add six gates to Barbara Jordan Terminal
B. Begin work on new taxiways
C. Add two levels to the parking garage; convert second level to rental car return
D. Build a two-lane flyover to westbound SH 71 (1); widen Cardinal Loop to four lanes (2)
E. Build a 24-acre north remote long-term lot (1) and an 18-acre employee parking lot (2)
F. Begin a new cargo area on the west side of the airport (along U.S. 183)
Level 2 — 13.2 million passengers.
Total cost estimate: $921 million from city, $88 million from other sources. Highlights include:
G. A new south terminal with 11 gates
H. A new south entrance (1), garage (2), employee parking lot (3), etc., to go with the terminal, along with the associated roadways, and a road between the two terminals (4)
J. A consolidated rental car facility
K. Further work on new cargo areas (1); a new general-aviation area on the airport’s east side (2)
L More new taxiways
A second airport hotel (location unknown, somewhere near new south entrance)
Level 3 — 18.4 million passengers.
Total cost estimate: $323 million from city, $156 million from other sources. Highlights include:
M. Expand the south terminal, adding 10 more gates (not until this point does the plan recommend initiating inter-terminal flight connections)
N. Expand the parking facilities on both sides of the airport
O. Expand the cargo area
P. Build a new administrative complex for the Dept. of Aviation
R. Begin planning for a third runway
This article appears in January 24 • 2003.