LONG-RANGE PLAN FOR THE AIRPORT UNDERWAY

Vision 2050 Airport Master Plan: A blueprint for how the airport can best serve the future needs of San Antonio and the region

In January 2011 The City of San Antonio ’ s Aviation Department released to the public the final recommendations of the Vision 2050 Airport Master Plan, and was approved on March 31, 2011 by to the City Council. The Master Plan calls for $191 million in capital improvements over the next five years, including:

•           Renovating and renewing the 26-year old Terminal A to provide additional space for the passenger security screening checkpoint and the baggage claim area

•           Constructing a six-story consolidated rental car facility to connect rental car services to the terminals via pedestrian bridges and eliminate the need for rental car shuttles

•           Acquiring property outside the existing airport property to relocate and expand the rental car storage and maintenance facilities and the employee and economy parking lots

•           Reserving on-site parcels for commercial aviation development, including general aviation, aircraft maintenance and manufacturing facilities

The 18-month planning project was guided by approximately 100 people on three advisory committees that represented a broad cross-section of the San Antonio community. Committee members included representatives of government, business, military, tourism, transportation, environment, real estate, neighborhoods and the arts. The committees met five times over the course of the project, providing input and guidance to the consulting team in order to ensure the best possible outcome for the San Antonio region.

The Vision 2050 Airport Master Plan includes forecasts of aviation demand, a three-phased implementation plan, cost estimates, a financial plan and an analysis of the environmental impacts of future development.

In addition to the $191 million in short term improvements, the plan calls for an additional $815 million in capital projects to be implemented between five and 20 years from now, including:

•           Acquiring additional parcels to control the Runway Protection Zones (RPZs), which are zones located at the end of the runways and intended to enhance the safety of people and property on the ground

•           Upgrading one runway (12L-30R) from a general aviation runway to an air carrier runway and rehabilitate an existing air carrier runway (12R-30L)

•           Extending Terminal A to the south to provide two additional aircraft gates

•           Constructing a new terminal, Terminal C, to meet traffic demand in 2030. The proposed terminal layout locates Terminal C parallel to the existing roadway and with a six gate concourse pier which extends parallel to the concourse piers of Terminals A and B. All three terminals will be connected by a corridor which will allow passengers to circulate through the terminal complex, both pre- and post-security, therefore creating a unified terminal complex

•           Reserving land for the development of an intermodal facility to provide access to several currently available and future modes of transportation in one consolidated facility, including bus and regional rail service

•           Reserving land for future commercial development on airport property, which will allow the Airport to diversify revenue sources, enhance non-aeronautical revenues and ensure financial self-sufficiency

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) encourages airports to develop master plans approximately every 10 years to guide future airport development and plan for funding.  SAT ’ s last master plan was completed in 1998 and included a recommendation for Terminal B, which opened in October 2010.