Project Awarded $60 Million From the Governor’s $230 Million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition
Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled a new video rendering that offers viewers their first glimpse of the interior of a reimagined Albany International Airport. The two-minute fly-through video depicts the spacious new passenger waiting areas that will be constructed as part of a recently begun upgrade of the Capital Region travel hub. The project is being funded with $60 million from the Governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. The video, which was produced by the Airport’s design consultants, is available for viewing here and will be displayed at a November 8 public meeting on the Albany Airport Master Plan Update.
“Airports are gateways to their local communities and important economic engines for Upstate New York – we are doing all we can to ensure they are ready for the challenges of the 21st century,” Governor Hochul said. “This new rendering shows the exciting changes that are in store for the Albany International Airport and demonstrates the great progress we are making in modernizing our transportation infrastructure.”
Albany International Airport was one of nine upstate airports awarded a total of $230 million in the latest round of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition funding announced by Governor Hochul last year. The awards are intended to promote, revitalize and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports, helping to create airports for the 21st century. In August, the Governor announced that work had begun on the project.
With an existing terminal that was designed more than a quarter century ago, the Albany International Airport handles over a million enplanements a year and is challenged by space limitations. This $100 million revitalization project will support the expansion of the airport's terminal to provide enhanced passenger amenities pre and post checkpoint and more efficient passenger flow through security.
Additional improvements include:
- Installation of a 30 KW solar array installation on the rooftop and new energy-efficient LED lighting system throughout project area
- Revitalized airline ticketing, baggage claim and concession areas
- Removal of the existing rotunda and pedestrian bridge to construct a new main entrance with glass curtain wall and the installation of lightweight, translucent canopies
- Relocation and expansion of existing security checkpoint and passenger recompositing areas
- Airside marketplace expansion and creation of additional circulation and seating areas
- New children’s play zone
- Updates to the conference facilities, public arts area and writer’s workshop; and installation of multi-sensory calming room
- Expansion of the landside connector between the airport and the parking garage
- Upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
The Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation and was open to upstate commercial passenger service airports and airports providing specialized service for commercial aircraft and/or corporate jets. Applicants were encouraged to apply for funding a single project or a program of projects to help meet the demands of the 21st century. Projects submitted for review by eligible airports were evaluated based on established criteria, including but not limited to innovation in design, passenger amenities and experience, operational efficiencies and economic effectiveness for the airport's region.
No comments:
Post a Comment