Proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at SAT

New Passenger Gates and Parking Facilities Under Design

Terminal expansion to include a seven-gate Concourse B addition to Terminal 1 and a five-gate Concourse C (expandable up to eleven gates) is has been designed by 3D International.  Concourse B will replace Terminal 2, which is obsolete and will be demolished to make way for Terminal C, as well as further terminal development.  Concourse C will be constructed in phases as passenger growth and demand for gate facilities occur.  Ground breaking for Concourse B is expected to occur in the spring of 2006.

Future requirements for vehicle parking are currently being addressed with the design of a new long-term/short-term garage.  HNTB has created the design architect for this project.  Groundbreaking for a new five-story garage, with approximately 2,260 long-term parking space and 660 short-term parking spaces, is planned for the spring of 2006.

Both these projects involve extensive roadway expansion to meet new access needs and will include an extension of the Terminal One two-tier roadway system to accommodate traffic and passenger drop off and pick up at the new concourses.

In conjunction with the terminal development construction of additional aircraft parking apron is planned.

Proposed New Garage

Terminal B

Terminal B Lobby

 
Airfield Capacity

In order to meet future airport capacity requirements associated with the travel requirements for a growing, economically vibrant city, the City of San Antonio completed a 20-year Airport Master Plan. It was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1998.  Subsequently, the City of San Antonio Aviation Department completed a Noise Study in 2002 as part of its continuing efforts to mitigate noise impacts on airport neighborhoods.  A Land Use Study, which was initiated in 2003 and is currently in process, will assist the City in planning and zoning for future developments near the airport. 

These sequential initiatives have now brought the City of San Antonio to the final process before implementing airfield capacity projects.  In 2003, the FAA selected Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  The EIS will assess the environmental impacts associated with the capacity enhancing runway/taxiway expansion projects, and is necessary before any airfield work can commence.  Public involvement is ongoing and considered essential to the successful completion of this project.

Airport Master Plan projects to be studied during the current process include:

? Extension of Runway 3/21 and Taxiways N and Q
? Reconstruction and upgrade of Runway 12/L/30R and associated taxiways from general aviation to air carrier dimensions (of approximately 8,500 feet by 150 feet) as well as the installation of an instrument landing system.

Environmental Impact Statement Process

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), completion of the EIS is a pre-requisite for implementation of any airfield improvements associated with airport capacity enhancements such as those planned for SAT.  The FAA announced its Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS in the Federal Register on February 26, 2004.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the FAA must consider the environmental consequences of major airport development projects having the potential to significantly affect the environment prior to their approval.  The FAA Regional Office in Fort Worth, Texas is responsible for the preparation of this EIS, which is expected to take approximately three years to complete.  It will include reviewing public comments, defining alternative solutions, and studying environmental and community impacts.

Currently, the process is being changed to an Environmental Assessment(EA) service airfield capacity is not projected to be an issue until 2020.  Airfield expansion will be scaled back and extended through 2020.

In addition to aircraft noise, major elements of the EIS will include evaluation of the proposed projects as they may impact air and water quality, historic and cultural resources, endangered species, wetlands, energy, natural resources and light emissions. 

The EIS will be performed in three phases to coincide with key milestones ? Scooping, Draft EIS and Final EIS.

As a result of the EIS completed thus far, the process is expected to change to an Environmental Assessment (EA) since it has been determined that the need for additional airfield capacity under the Aiport Master Plan is now projected at a slower pace.  Planned airfield capacity enhancements are expected to occur through 2020.