On Wednesday, the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ground Transportation Center being built at the Reno Tahoe International Airport.
The airport is consolidating all of its ground transportation activity into a single site.
This includes rental cars, ride shares, taxis, and shuttles, all in an effort to make it more convenient for travelers.
The projected cost of the project is $299 million, with the money coming from public and private ownership and partnerships. It was deemed necessary for the growing city and airport.
Jerry Sullivan from Somerset, Wisconsin, shared his experience and thoughts on the upcoming changes: "Thoughts coming in today are busy, and the service at the rental counters is really good. It'll be better with the new system and new building. And we just want to say congratulations on the groundbreaking."
Daren Griffin, the president and CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, described Wednesday as exciting and important for the airport, organization, and community.
"It really benefits this facility," he said. "All rental car activity will move out of our existing parking garage, which frees up almost 600 parking spaces. We all know parking at the airport is pretty challenging, so we need that parking. It will also reduce congestion on the airport roadways; all vehicles entering and exiting this facility won't come through the airport loop anymore."
Griffin says this means less traffic, less noise, less emissions, and more parking for everybody.
The project is expected to be completed in 2028.
Griffin says the project wouldn't be possible without the public/private funding partnership, so they're grateful.
The final product will also provide jobs to our community.
"There are several hundred construction and construction support jobs through 30 local companies supporting this project in some way, whether it's construction or design or other facility management, so it's a big investment in our local business community and local construction trades, and also it's a great partnership," Griffin explained.
It will take two years to get the first floor built and open, which will be the ground transportation center.
The current rental car space, as of now, will then be repurposed into new public parking.
Amy Barnes, Chief Development Officer with Conrad Solutions, says, "We started with a feasibility study over five years ago, looking at the sites that were available, making sure that everything in this project fit in with More RNO and the long-term plans of the airport."
She says this plan required a lot of teamwork.
"The rental car companies are experts in these facilities;," she said/ "They build them at airports around the country, and they know what works and what's important to their customers, and it's making sure that that works with the individual airport and working with the Reno-Tahoe staff to make sure that they're representing their long-term vision for this airport and servicing their shared customers."
She believes this change will massively improve the number of rental cars available.
