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$105 MILLION
EXPORT EXPANSION
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By
Jim Baer
When the four-year, $105 million renovation to Lambert Field
is complete, then think of the main terminal as becoming your
wireless cyber-café to the world.
Wireless Internet connections will be one of many positive gains
to the new look terminal.
Civic leaders and travelers alike hailed the planned renovation
as something long overdue and something badly needed to compete
with airports from around the country.
At least that’s the way airport director Kevin Dolliole sees
it. There are exactly 462 commercial service airports across
the U.S. and according to Dolliole, 80 percent are ORD (Original
Destination Facilities). And St. Louis launches and receives
upwards of 350 to 360 flights per day.
The Old Dame is going to get lots more than just a facelift.
Once the work is complete, improvements will include new restaurants,
retail shops, waiting areas, signs, luggage carousels, ticket
counters, refurbished bathrooms and a domed glass canopy protecting
travelers from the elements upon embarking ground transportation
or walking from the nearby garage.
Dolliole plans to leverage the upgrades from the existing and
beautiful architectural design elements of the main terminal.
All work will be done within the existing footprint.
The airport director guided a $450 million project in San Antonio,
which has been reviewed favorably in the Lone Star state. That
airport already has improved lighting, more retail and restaurants
and upgraded bathrooms and features interesting public art.
Soon, St. Louis too will boast similar amenities.
“9/11 impacted how airports function greatly and emphasis is
on improved security, putting more physical constraints on older
airports,” reports Dolliole. Complying with the TSA and Homeland
Security has absorbed precious operational airport dollars.
Dolliole figures that all improvements will be completed and
in place no later than August 2012.
“You
will see a significant change in appearance and functional flow
with basic new amenities,” says the airport’s director.
The first changes (new restaurants, retail shops and improved
checkpoints will be done by 2009.) The glass canopy will be
the last phase of improvement.
However, none of this will be done on the typical construction
schedule.
“We simply don’t have the luxury of just changing out roadways
and sidewalks. We have business here (at the airport) seven-days-a-week,
24-hours-a-day. “We will always be working around the traveling
public,” he says.
The build-up to construction has required well thought out phasing
and careful planning. “This is all about becoming an important
public relations project. We will be constantly informing the
public about construction schedules, dead-lines and meetings
so everyone knows exactly what is going on and when projects
will be complete.”
Airport planners had numerous meetings with stakeholders before
going public with the plans.
Other cities have rebuilt their existing airports from the bench
up. Quickly coming to mind are makeovers in Detroit and Minneapolis.
The need for an all-new terminal passed with the phase down
of business by American Airlines several years ago. Now that
traffic is building back, the need for aesthetic and physical
improvements is more pressing. Lambert has grown a healthy 9.8
percent from 2004 to 2005, and another 3.4 percent on from 2005
to 2006. Dolliole is constantly in communications, trying to
bring new carriers to St. Louis, and upping the daily flights
of existing carriers. “I am a big fan of American Airlines and
Southwest,” he states without hesitation.
Financing will not be a burden on the tax payer. No City tax
money is being used for this project. The project is being funded
through $56 million in bonds to be repaid by airport revenues
and $49 million from “per passenger” fees that airlines already
pay to the airport. Dolliole says he still needs final approval
from the FAA and the participating airlines, though all parties
have all said the work will be funded and completed.
The importance of this project cannot be under-stated. The first
thing airline visitors see upon arrival is the local airport,
and as we all know, first impressions are lasting. “This is
the first thing the traveling public sees, and the last thing
they see when they depart our City. The airport is the front
door to our region. This project will be done correctly, on
budget and on time,” states the airport director.
Once done, travelers will be able to surf the Internet within
the confines of a wireless restaurant while enjoying a fresh
cup of coffee. This all sounds very good for the traveling public.
For more information on Lambert-St. Louis International Airport,
please visit the St. Louis RCGA website at http://www.gotostlouis.org./x523.xml
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