Officials hope to add a third story to one of Tulsa International Airport's two parking garages, a plan that would move short-term parking up a level and could require a pedestrian bridge to give travelers access to the terminal.
Tentative plans, disclosed Thursday at a Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust meeting, would add about 580 parking spots and relieve traffic headaches for rental car agencies that now share a level with public parking.
Airport officials want to spend about $15 million on the plan, with construction starting in late 2014.
"There were several different options and one was to have a third-party developer company in and lease it back," said airport spokeswoman Alexis Higgins. "The rental car companies weren't fond of that, so we went back to the drawing board."
The expanded parking garage would be paid for with rental car fees and taxes.
The project is still in its initial phases, and airport staff are negotiating a contract with a design and engineering firm. Part of that negotiation will be a provision to let the airport pull out of the project early if cost estimates are too high.
Airport staff have been in discussion with rental car companies for years about how to expand their space. Among the previous proposals was a new and separate facility west of the airport's main terminal. That project was estimated to cost about $30 million. Rental car companies at the airport were less enthusiastic about that plan.
Tulsa International has about 500 spots for rental cars on the lower level of the northern parking garage. But some travelers who park have to pass through that parking garage to get to and from the terminal.
Higgins said rental car firms have complained because employees are frequently shuttling vehicles through that space.
"We need more space for parking anyway," Higgins said.
Tulsa International has 3,642 parking spots now.
If plans for the third story proceed, the second floor would be dedicated to long-term, covered parking and short-term parking would move to the top, uncovered parking level. That would put those cars one level above the terminal.
Carl Remus, airport deputy director for finance, said there have been discussions about a pedestrian bridge to the terminal. Another possibility would be adding elevators to the north parking garage to bring passengers to the same level as the terminal.
Kyle Arnold 918-581-8380
kyle.arnold@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Airport eyes expansion of parking
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