The Proposed Project is intended to resolve several problems with the existing passenger terminal building. The existing passenger terminal building does not meet current FAA Airport Design Standards related to runway separation and object free areas. It is also obsolete in terms of contemporary passenger terminal design and efficient utilization standards. Further, it does not meet current State building requirements. The purpose of the Proposed Project is to provide a passenger terminal building that meets current FAA Airport Design Standards, passenger demand, and building requirements as well as improve utilization and operational efficiency of the passenger terminal building. FAA’s need is to ensure that the Airport operates in a safe manner pursuant to 49 USC § 47101(a)(1) and defined by the statutory requirement to decide whether to approve the Proposed Action as depicted on the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) developed by the Authority, pursuant to 49 USC § 47107(a)(16).

The Authority’s specific objectives to meet the goal of modernizing the passenger terminal building and to meet the expectations of the current and future travelling public are to:

  • Have a replacement passenger terminal building that meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards, as well as the latest seismic (earthquake) design requirements of the California Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Chapter 16).
  • Have a replacement passenger terminal building that consolidates air facilities (including passenger, tenant, and Authority facilities) into a single passenger terminal building.
  • Provide an energy-efficient passenger terminal building with the same number of aircraft gates and the same number of public parking spaces as the existing facilities for commercial passengers.
  • Maintain intermodal connectivity between the replacement passenger terminal building and the various fixed-rail and bus options located near the Airport.

Why Update the Airport Now?

The central portion of the existing terminal was built in 1930, and the structure does not meet current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards (as specified in Title 14, CFR Part 77, Safe, Efficient Use and Preservation of the Navigable Airspace and FAA Advisory Circular 150/5300-13A, Change 1, Airport Design). In addition, FAA standard practice is to limit the number of runway crossings a taxiing aircraft must make to minimize the opportunity for incursions (any occurrence at an airport that involves the incorrect presence of an object in a protected area designated for landing or departing aircraft) on the airfield and to maintain operational airfield capacity.  

Proposed Action

The Proposed Action includes replacement of the existing 14-gate passenger terminal building, located in the southeast quadrant of the Airport, with a new 14-gate passenger terminal building in the northeast quadrant (also known as the former Lockheed-Martin B-6 Plant site) of the Airport. The existing passenger terminal building would be demolished, and parallel Taxiways A and C would be extended full length to the ends of Runways 15-33 and 8-26, respectively.