San Diego Airport New Terminal #1 Progresses
Summary
Here is a summary of the development and current status of the New Terminal 1 project at San Diego International Airport (SAN):- Overview:
- - The $3.8 billion New Terminal 1 project will replace the aging Terminal 1 that opened in 1967. It aims to modernize the airport and improve the passenger experience.
- Timeline:
- - Construction began in November 2021
- - The first phase with 19 new gates is scheduled to open in late summer 2025
- - The second phase with the final 11 gates is expected to be completed in early 2028
- Features:
- - 30 total gates (up from 19 currently)
- - Upgraded concessions, hold rooms, ticket lobby, security checkpoints, baggage claim
- - Post-security connector to Terminal 2
- - New 5,200 space parking plaza
- - Dual-level roadway to separate arriving and departing traffic
- - Sustainability elements like rainwater capture, EV charging, preparations for sea level rise
- Funding:
- - Airline lease agreement provides guaranteed funding support
- - Majority of costs will be covered by airport revenue bonds
- - FAA grants, including $23.5M in March 2023, are contributing
- - No local tax dollars being used
- Current Status as of June 2024:
- - Steel structure of new Terminal 1 was completed at the end of 2023
- - On track to open first 19 gates in late summer 2025
- - Old Terminal 1 still in use during construction
San Diego Airport receives $23.5M federal grant
By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has awarded San Diego International Airport $23.5 million in discretionary grant funds for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grants program.
The amount is the second-largest grant awarded by the FAA in this round of funding. The grant dollars will help fund the construction of a modern and efficient New Terminal 1 which includes 30 gates and will replace the current Terminal 1.
“We thank the FAA for awarding these funds, which are crucial to our New T1 program,” said Kimberly Becker, President and CEO, of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “This grant will help us create an exceptional airport experience for the community and the world. We are grateful to San Diego’s congressional delegation who fought for this funding legislation. The Airport Authority appreciates Congressman Scott Peters’ unwavering support of San Diego International Airport and the region.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests in the nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. This is the sixth round of funding to enhance safety and efficiency at airports. Ninety-one airports across the county were awarded grants in this funding round.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 billion in
airport infrastructure funding. The money can be invested in runways,
taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal,
airport-transit connections and roadway projects.
FY24 Airport Infrastructure Grant Funding Amounts
For a third year, FAA has made $2.89 billion available to U.S. airports. To date, nearly $9 billion in Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) funding has been made available to airports across the country. The map below shows each airport with funding allocations and the projects underway.
For full details on funding amounts, see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Allocations file.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grants program.
The New Terminal 1 At San Diego Airport: A Closer Look At The Impressive Project
Construction started in November 2021, and various stages of completion are expected by 2028.
Summary
- New Terminal 1 at San Diego Airport is to open in late summer 2025 with 19 gates
- Total budget of $3.8 billion for the expansion, creating 15,000-20,000 local jobs and supporting the regional economy.
- The Terminal 1 design focuses on sustainability with rainwater capture, electric vehicle stations, and consideration for future sea level rise.
By the end of 2023, the steel structure of the new Terminal 1 had been completed. The first phase of Terminal 1 is expected to open in the late summer of 2025, and it will provide more space, a parking lot, and a roadway specifically for arrivals. In the meantime, travelers are still using the old terminal, although some traffic has been redirected due to the ongoing construction.
The new Terminal 1
In contrast to its multi-runway Californian counterparts in San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Diego International Airport (SAN) has long since been known for being the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the US. San Diego International Airport Terminal 1 opened in 1967 and saw 2.5 million passengers in its first year. Recently, it reached incredible results, handling more than 15 million passengers in 2021, although its pre-pandemic figures exceeded 25 million.
With a total budget of $3.8 billion, (and an additional $20 million from the Federal Aviation Administration in March 2023, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), the ambitious terminal expansion is made possible by a ten-year management and lease agreement with partner airlines, guaranteeing stability and financial support. This substantial investment is expected to create between 15,000 and 20,000 local jobs, significantly boosting the local economy.
San Diego International Airport new terminal 1 milestones | |
|---|---|
November 2021 | Construction of the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport began |
October 2023 | Opening of the first administration building |
Summer 2024 | Phase 1 of the new Terminal 1 Parking Plaza is scheduled to open (2,800 parking spaces) |
Summer 2025 | Phase 2 of the Parking Plaza is scheduled to open (further 2,400 parking spaces) |
Late summer 2025 | Phase 1A of the new Terminal 1 is scheduled to open (19 new gates) |
Early 2028 | Phase 1B of the Terminal 1 project is scheduled for completion (final 11 gates into operation) |
The new Terminal 1 is expected to occupy approximately 108,000 m2 (1,160,000 square feet), with 8,360 m2 (90,000 square feet) dedicated to concessions. The distribution of the contract value aims to allocate:
- 97% of the subcontract value goes to small companies, of which 80% is allocated to local companies to support the regional economy.
- 3% of the subcontract value is allocated to veteran-owned small businesses in honor of their service and contribution.
The expansion of Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport promises to enhance the traveler experience with 11 new gates, bringing the total to 62. Passengers will also enjoy seamless connections to Terminal 2, a post-security outdoor patio overlooking San Diego Bay, up to two lounges/clubs, and a children's play area. A new three-lane entrance roadway and a multi-use path along North Harbor Drive will enhance accessibility, serving vehicles and pedestrians.
San Diego Airport Releases List Of Restaurants And Shops For The New Terminal 1
The first phase of the new Terminal, with 19 gates, is slated to open in 2025 The new terminal's San Diego International Airport design will also prioritize sustainability with a rainwater capture system, large charging stations for electric vehicles, and bicycle parking. In addition, an underground fuel distribution system will eliminate traditional refueling trucks, and all-electric shuttle services will be introduced.
Not the first "big" project for SAN
Over more than 80 years, San Diego International Airport (SAN) has continuously adapted to meet the region's aviation needs. In recent years, there have mainly been two recent improvements at San Diego Airport: the modernization of the airport's north side (spread over 2,674,972 m2 or 661 acres), finished in 2016, and the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, completed in 2017. The Terminal 2 Parking Plaza, completed in just 20 months, offers 2,900 parking spaces adjacent to Terminal 2. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that facilitates its use, including monitoring space availability and booking. The building also offers environmental benefits, such as a 380,000-liter (100,000-gallon) rainwater capture and reuse system, which stores all rain that falls on the 30,700 m2 (7.6-acre) facility, preventing runoff from entering San Diego Bay. The rainwater is then used to manage the air temperature in the terminals.San Diego International: A Brief History Of The US's Busiest Single-Runway Airport
San Diego International has been in operation for over 90 years, here's a look back. San Diego Airport has been placing a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability for years. It has achieved LEED Platinum certification for its terminal, becoming the first commercial airport terminal in the world to achieve this status. All its new buildings adhere to ecological design principles, such as using alternative energy sources and reducing water and energy consumption.
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Celebrates the Groundbreaking for the New Terminal 1
Monday, December 13, 2021
Today, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (Airport Authority) along with federal, state, and city officials held a groundbreaking celebration for the New T1.
The New T1 project includes the replacement of the outdated Terminal 1, improvements to the airfield, improved transportation connectivity to the airport, and a new facility for the Airport Authority administration. Construction began November 1.
“We are thrilled to commemorate this historic day and celebrate the tremendous planning effort that went into reaching this point,” said Gil Cabrera, Airport Authority Board Chair. “I’m proud of the Airport Authority team and their unwavering commitment to bring San Diego a new Terminal 1. The airport is often the first and last impression we get to make as a city, and I can assure you the New T1 will be something that the region can be proud of.”
“Our goal has always been to ensure that San Diego International Airport provides a first-class experience for our customers, and the New T1 will ensure we continue to do that for decades to come,” said Kimberly Becker, Airport Authority President & CEO. “Today’s groundbreaking is the culmination of years of planning and collaboration with stakeholders and the greater San Diego community. This is truly your airport and I’m so excited that this day has finally come.”
The New T1 is divided into three components, Terminals & Roadways, Airside Improvements, and a new Administration Building. The Administration Building component will be the first building to be completed within the New T1 program with an anticipated opening date in late 2023. It will be delivered by Sundt Construction, Inc. with HOK as the lead architect.
The Terminal & Roadways component will be completed in phases and is a design-build project by Turner-Flatiron, a joint venture with Gensler as lead architect. The first phase will include 19 gates, an elevated departures roadway, outdoor check-in pavilions, a dedicated, on-airport arrivals roadway, and a five-story parking plaza. The earliest opening for the first phase is in mid-2025. The second phase will add 11 gates for a total of 30 gates. The earliest opening for the second phase is in late 2027.
The Airside Improvements component is being delivered by contractor Griffith Company and will allow for more efficient aircraft movements and ground traffic flow for the new terminal. The earliest completion date for all projects within the Airside Improvements component will be mid-2028.
The New T1 will feature pre-and post-security passenger connectors to Terminal 2, a new parking plaza that will provide up to 5,200 parking spaces, an expansive security checkpoint with 13 lanes, an outdoor patio area post-security providing views of the airfield, San Diego Bay and downtown, up to two airline or common-use lounges/clubs, and a children’s play area. Six artists have been commissioned to create integrated, site-specific public art for The New T1 and the façade is being designed by renowned artist James Carpenter.
An important feature of the New T1 project is a three-lane on-airport access roadway that will take traffic from Laurel Street directly to the airport, reducing 45,000 vehicles a day on Harbor Drive. A dual-level roadway and curb front to separate arriving and departing passenger traffic with an elevated departures roadway and curbside check-in will also be integrated. The Airport Authority has preserved a space for a future transit station, giving the airport even more direct accessibility. Recently, SAN launched all-electric shuttle service between the airport and Old Town Transit Center, providing a convenient, last-mile transit solution.
The entire New T1 project will incorporate energy and water conservation and clear air initiatives. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure, a bicycle and pedestrian path on Harbor Drive, bicycle parking spaces, airfield improvements resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, an underground fuel-delivery system, and a stormwater capture and reuse system are included in the plans. The New T1, along with the rest of the airport, will be powered by 100 percent renewable, carbon-free electricity. Through these efforts, the Airport Authority’s goal is to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification for the project.
The airport has an economic impact of $12 billion on the region and serves as a critical link to San Diego’s top economic sectors. The total project budget is $3.4 billion and the initial estimate is that the New T1 project will create between 15,000 to 20,000 construction-related jobs.
The New T1 program will maximize opportunities for small, local, veteran-owned small businesses, and disadvantaged business enterprises. Through the Airport Authority’s Small Business Development program, the contract value distribution goals are 25 percent of subcontract value awarded to small businesses enterprises, 80 percent of subcontract value awarded to local businesses, and three percent to subcontract value awarded to veteran-owned small businesses.
The Airport Authority is committed to keeping passengers and the community informed about progress and plans for the New T1. For more information on the New T1 project including information on current and future construction impacts please visit, newt1.com.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SAN)
Owned and operated by San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (Airport Authority), San Diego International Airport (SAN) is one of the busiest single-runway commercial service airports in the world and the third-busiest airport in California. SAN contributes nearly $12 billion in economic activity for the region by connecting the world to San Diego and San Diego to the world. In November 2021, the Airport Authority began construction on the New T1 which includes the replacement of a new Terminal 1, improvements to the airfield, improved transportation connectivity to the airport, and a new administration building. The New T1 program’s total project budget is $3.4 billion and is estimated to create between 15,000 to 20,000 construction-related jobs. For more information about the New T1 please visit newt1.com. For more information about SAN please visit san.org.
Rep shares future San Diego airport plans with La Jolla Rotarians - La Jolla Light
Future plans for San Diego International Airport include the demolition of current Terminal 1 and construction of a new 1,500,000-square-foot, 30-aircraft-gate facility that could extend up to 150 feet above the ground. Airport planning manager Ted Anasis shared details of the upcoming construction with Torrey Pines of La Jolla Rotary Club members during their March 12 meeting at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 8980 La Jolla Village Drive.
The expansion is expected to increase the number of gates at the Airport from 51 to 61. A first phase, to be completed by 2020, will construct the east side of the new Terminal 1 facility, allowing the current Terminal 1 to continue operating while adjacent work is underway. “It’s very important that we do not close any of these 51 gates during construction,” Anasis told Rotarians.
Once the east side of Terminal 1’s expansion is ready to go, air traffic will be moved to the new 18-gate facility, liberating the existing Terminal 1, which was built in 1967, for demolition and further construction of an extra 12 gates. This phase is expected to be completed by 2027.
The airport operates out of a single runway, making it the busiest single-runway airport in the nation, and according to Anasis, this is not about to change.
“We do not have enough land to construct a second runway, or even a runway that would be at a sufficient separation,” he said, adding that San Diego County voters rejected a ballot measure in 2006 to move the airport to Miramar.
Other developments in the plans include an extension of Terminal 2 West, and improvements to airport and airline support facilities, such as roadway modifications and new parking facilities.
“We want to create an on-airport roadway system that will allow incoming vehicle traffic to enter the airport earlier, and this allows us to segregate airport ground traffic from other destinations such as Harbor Drive,” he explained.
As for the parking structure, which is still in the conceptual design phase, Airport authorities are considering forthcoming conditions, such as the expansion of rideshare apps, preferred by many passengers in their trips to the airport, and the driverless car. “We are also seeing in the future the self-driving vehicles, so there may be who gets dropped off at the airport and sends their cars back home, and we want to be mindful of that,” he continued.
The expansion in number of gates will foreseeably bring a higher number of flights and passengers to San Diego. Airport Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) subcommittee La Jolla rep Chris McCann told the Light he calculates the expansion represents a 20 increase in capacity.
“There seems to be some fundamental disconnect between what historical growth trends show, what the Airport Authority is planning with the gate expansions, and what the ANAC reps tell us is the expected growth in traffic in coming years,” McCann wrote in an e-mail. “Citizens are rightfully concerned that the current noise issues impacting so many homes and families are only going to get worse with the expected growth in traffic if nothing is done about the problem.”
The Airport Authority issued an Environmental Impact Review Notice of Preparation in January, and the time to provide input on the scope of the review has ended. The Draft EIR will be released in September for public review and comments. More information at bit.ly/airportplan and citizens may direct questions to planning@san.org or call Anasis at (619) 400-2478.
Replacing an aging terminal – San Diego’s airport development plan continues
Nicole Hall from San Diego County Regional Airport Authority presents how COVID-19 has not put a stop to the airport development plan.
San Diego International Airport is located in a metropolitan area
As the busiest single runway commercial airport in the United States and – pre COVID-19 – servicing more than 25 million passengers including one million international passengers annually, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (Airport Authority) has laid the groundwork to replace its 53-year-old Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport (SAN). This $3 billion Airport Development Plan (ADP) envisions the construction of a modern Terminal 1 and other improvements that will enhance the airport experience and its operational efficiency.
The need for the ADP has been fuelled by tremendous growth in passenger volumes; seen during the last several years. In 2018, Terminal 1 served more than 12 million passengers, which is a drastic jump from the 2.5 million passengers it served in its first year of operation in 1967.
Pre COVID-19, the Airport Authority anticipated increased passenger growth to potentially 40 million passengers by 2035. While air passenger growth is inevitable, the expansion of SAN is not. The ADP is not a plan to expand SAN or increase the numbers of aircraft that land and depart: The FAA and the marketplace dictate how many aircraft can take off and land.
Terminal 1 is located adjacent to SAN’s modern, energy-efficient Terminal 2, which is the first LEED Platinum certified commercial airport terminal in the world. For nearly half the passengers arriving at SAN, an outdated and aging Terminal 1 is their first impression of San Diego.
SAN is an urban airport, surrounded by San Diego Bay, the downtown area and residential neighbourhoods. Given the location and geography of the airport, the ADP became a collaborative process and experience with regional partner agencies, stakeholders and the greater San Diego community to identify and ensure the improvements work for all.
Spacious baggage claim area in SAN’s Terminal 2
The Airport Authority released an initial ADP Draft Environmental Impact Report in July 2018 and then revised and recirculated it in September 2019. During that 14-month period, more than 100 meetings were held to hear public concerns and consequently revise planning. On 9 January 2020, the Airport Authority Board of Directors certified the Final Environmental Impact Report.
Currently the ADP timeline is on track with the goal to break ground on the new terminal in 2021 and open the first phase (19 gates) in late 2024 or early 2025. The opening date is in sync with the air travel forecasts which predict air traffic, industry wide, should be back to normal levels, post COVID-19.
Environmental planning and terminal design
The new Terminal 1 will feature 30 gates (up from 19 in the current terminal) and jet bridges connecting passengers to larger hold rooms with more gate-area seating, new restaurants and shops, a larger ticket lobby, as well as additional security checkpoints with more lanes and a bigger baggage claim area, alongside a host of energy-efficiency upgrades.
A new interior passageway, post security, will connect the new terminal to the existing Terminal 2. This will eliminate the need for passengers to pass through security a second time when connecting through SAN and access all the airport’s 61 gates post security. A more efficient baggage handling system will also be added.
“As we develop the design elements of the new terminal, we can’t ignore the need to mitigate the spread of any current or future virus,” said Dennis Probst, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Planning and Environmental Affairs. “The safety of all entering our airport is paramount and COVID-19 has given us a lot to consider in our new design. Our goal is to create a facility that promotes a healthy environment and can adapt to social distancing measures, if needed.”
The new design will include high ceilings, an abundance of natural lighting and a ventilation system that will increase filtered clean air in the new terminal. It will also include features that allow a contactless experience for travellers, such as self-opening doors and touchless faucets. Plexiglass screens at ticket counters, social distancing signage and seat separation covers are also readily available to set up in all SAN terminals.
Improvements to mobility and access to the airport
One major issue related to the ADP has been transit connectivity to the airport. The Airport Authority believes a strong connection to the region’s transit system is extremely important for its passengers, for the people who work at SAN and for the overall traffic circulation in the area around the airport.
Included in the ADP is an on-airport entry road that would remove an estimated 45,000 cars (85 per cent of the traffic) per day from the current airport access roadway. The plan also includes right-of-way and a plan for outbound lanes, when needed. A dual-level roadway in front of the new terminal would separate arriving and departing passenger traffic, helping ease congestion at the kerb front.
A state-of-the-art parking plaza in front of the new terminal will provide close-in parking and minimise walking distances. The parking plaza will replace surface parking lots and provide up to 5,500 parking spaces. With this structure, the airport would have an overall net increase of only 650 parking spaces from current levels.
The Airport Authority has also reserved a location within easy walking distance of the new Terminal 1 and existing Terminal 2 for a future transit station that can connect to any type of regional transit solution identified by regional transportation planning agencies. The Airport Authority has been working with regional agencies including the San Diego Association of Governments, the San Diego Port District, the City of San Diego, Metropolitan Transit System, North County Transit District, California Department of Transportation and the County of San Diego and others to assist in their efforts to analyse circulation around the airport, as well as to determine the best transit solution for carrying people to the airport.
A commitment to sustainability
Aligned with the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan and Downtown Mobility Plan , the ADP includes expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure, a multi-use path on the two main artery roadways that surround SAN and new incentives to promote alternative commuting habits among employees. The plan also focuses on air quality.
“Our emissions are now among the lowest in the country,” said Kimberly J. Becker, President/CEO of the Airport Authority. “In fact, we are one of only two airports in North America to achieve a carbon neutrality certification under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.”
Also, a series of airfield improvements, including new, redesigned taxiways, will help reduce aircraft taxiing times, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Aerial view of SAN with ADP improvements
The Airport Authority considers climate resilience one of the critical elements of its sustainability programme and it has developed a Climate Resilience Plan (CRP) to address impacts from higher sea levels, more intense rainfall and extreme heat. Part of this plan includes a partnership with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to monitor rising sea levels using advanced sensors in San Diego Bay.
Additionally, there is a plan to expand stormwater systems that provide the ability to capture and reuse more than 39 million gallons of rain annually.
COVID-19 economic impacts
When passenger volumes plummeted at airports globally – at SAN by more than 95 per cent compared to 2019 – the Airport Authority implemented a financial resilience plan and adopted a budget for Fiscal Year 2021 that temporarily deferred approximately $220 million of non-essential capital improvement projects and cut over $23 million from operating expenses compared to the Fiscal Year 2020 budget.
SAN also received federal relief funding in the form of a $91 million award from the CARES Act. In addition, the FAA recently awarded the Airport Authority approximately $11 million for two airside grant projects. SAN’s adopted FY2021 budget anticipates $376 million in revenue and $288 million in expenses, which provides excess funds for on-going capital projects, such as the ADP.
“Within the ADP planning, we have built in options to slow down, speed up, or even stop work completely,” said Becker. “We are cautiously moving forward with our current timeline for the ADP, however, that could change depending on the speed of recovery in the travel industry. We believe by moving forward there is a potential for cost savings, particularly during this economic downturn.”
Benefits to the regional economy
Pre pandemic, SAN’s overall economic impact was measured at nearly $12 billion annually. SAN currently employs more than 9,000 people at the airport for the airlines, federal agencies, general aviation, cargo, concessions and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. The ADP is poised to provide thousands more well-paying jobs at a time of unprecedented unemployment.
Funding the ADP
In July 2019, the Airport Authority negotiated a new 10-year Airline Operating and Lease Agreement with its airline partners that financially supports the ADP and includes pre-approved funding of more than $500 million for on-airport and off-airport transportation improvements. This $500 million commitment was ultimately instrumental in obtaining support from government agencies, cities and surrounding communities for the ADP.
Funding the ADP is predominantly expected to come from issuance of long-term debt. The current plan assumes about 90 per cent debt financing with the remainder coming from airport cash and FAA grants. Future airline rates and charges and non-airline revenue will be used to repay the debt.
Next steps
Next steps for the project include completion of the federal environmental review and acquiring the Coastal Development Permits from the California Coastal Commission.
“We are proud of the progress we have made with the ADP,” said Becker. “We look forward to bringing San Diego a new updated Terminal 1 that will keep travellers coming back, nonstop, to San Diego for years to come.”
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