Board Of Supervisors Approves
Parking Structure Expansion At John Wayne Airport

Santa Ana, CA -- Today, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $27.6 million East Parking Structure Expansion at John Wayne Airport (JWA). The Board action initiates the bidding process for the construction of the parking structure.

The project provides for the construction of two additional levels on the East Parking Structure located adjacent to the terminal. In response to increasing passenger demands at the Airport, the expansion will accommodate travelers with nearly 2,000 additional parking spaces and a Central Transportation Center for shuttles, taxi cabs, buses and other similar forms of ground transportation.

Funding for this project will be provided solely from the Airport Operating Fund. No taxpayer dollars will be spent.

Award of the construction contract to the lowest bidder is anticipated in August 1997. Construction is currently scheduled to commence in October 1997 and is expected to last approximately 20 months.

East Parking Structure Expansion

Q&A

Q. What is the project?

A. The project provides for the construction of two additional levels on the East Parking Structure (lots A2 and B2 located across the roadway from the terminal) at John Wayne Airport. Additional features include an access and egress from the upper level roadway, two covered pedestrian walkways across the upper level roadway, covered handicapped parking, a Central Transportation Center, improvements to the rental car operations area, a single story parking revenue control office and various retrofit work on the existing parking structure.

Q. How many new parking spaces will this construction provide?

A. A total of 1,962 additional public parking spaces will be provided. Specifically, there will be 932 new covered parking spaces, 999 uncovered parking spaces, 19 handicapped accessible parking spaces, and 12 covered handicapped van accessible parking spaces.

Q. How many parking spaces are currently provided at JWA?

A. There are 7,467 public parking spaces in the Airport’s five parking lots. Specifically, the East Parking Structure contains 1,202 public parking spaces.

Q. What is the proposed Central Transportation Center?

A. The Central Transportation Center (CTC) will be located above the current rental car operation area and will serve as a central point for all ground transportation (shuttles, taxi cabs, airport coach, etc.). It is intended to reduce congestion on the terminal roadway system and increase the white curb area used for convenient curbside drop-off and pick-up.

Q. What is the total estimated cost of the project?

A. Total cost of the project is estimated to be $27,694,000.

Q. How is this being funded?

A. All funding is being provided through the Airport Operating Fund. No taxpayer dollars are being spent on this project.

Q. Is there a need for additional parking spaces?

A. John Wayne Airport continues to experience steady passenger growth which places an increasing demand on parking availability. The parking lots adjacent to the terminal fill to capacity Tuesday through Thursday each week. It is anticipated that the demand for parking will soon exceed availability.

The original master plan/design of the East Parking Structure included a four level structure. Due to the demand for parking at the time of construction, however, only two levels were built.

Q. Why build this structure when an airport at El Toro is anticipated?

A. In December 1996, the Board of Supervisors approved a two-airport system for Orange County comprised of continued commercial operation at John Wayne Airport and a commercial aviation facility at MCAS El Toro. While the reuse planning for El Toro continues, the passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport continues to grow.

Q. Who is providing design, engineering and construction management for the project?

A. The Austin Company is providing design, engineering and construction management for a total of $2.6 million.

Q. Has a contractor been selected?

A. On March 18, 1997, the Board of Supervisors is anticipated to initiate the bidding process with the approval of the Responsibility Statement and Questionnaire and Notice to Bidders for the John Wayne Airport east parking structure construction. Award of the contract to the lowest responsible bidder is anticipated in August 1997.

Q. What is the construction schedule?

A. Construction will be done in two 10-month phases. Construction on the north side of the parking structure is anticipated to commence in October 1997 and be completed by August 1998. Construction on the south side of the parking structure is anticipated to commence in August 1998 and be completed by May 1999.

Q. What is being done to ease the impacts on Airport patrons?

A. John Wayne Airport staff has developed an extensive public relations plan to increase public awareness of the construction and offer parking alternatives via newspaper advertisements, radio public service announcements, correspondence with travel agencies, visitors and convention bureaus and major businesses in Orange County. In addition, a signage plan is being developed to direct travelers to available parking and temporarily relocated rental car locations. The most disruptive work will be conducted from the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. when the airport is not in operation.

As part of the effort to reduce the impacts to the traveling public, the Airport is soliciting a proposer to implement Valet Style Express Parking. This service will be offered at the Main Street Parking Lot and will provide patrons with dedicated shuttle bus service to and from the terminal every five minutes. Restructuring of the parking rates and frequent traveler incentives are also being considered.

Q. What kind of impacts will the Airport traveler experience?

A. During the first phase of construction, all parking spaces in the north side of the east parking structure will be displaced. This includes hourly, long term, and employee parking. In addition, the rental car operations of Alamo, Avis, Dollar and Hertz will be temporarily relocated to the bottom level of the south side of the east parking structure. Upon completion of Phase I, there will be 362 more public parking spaces than were provided in the entire East Parking Structure before the start of construction.

During the second phase of construction, all parking spaces in the south side of the east parking structure will be moved to the completed north side. This includes hourly, long term and employee parking, as well as the rental car operations of Budget and National.

Throughout the 20 months of the expansion project, patrons will experience some construction traffic on the Airport roadways. At least one lane of the terminal roadway will be dedicated to construction traffic.

Q. Where will patrons park during construction?

To avoid construction traffic and delays, it is strongly recommend that patrons park in the Main Street Parking Lot. Increased courtesy shuttle service (every 10 minutes) will be provided during construction. The Main Street Parking Lot can be directly accessed from Main Street or the new terminal roadway off-ramp. Additional signage will direct Airport patrons to available parking. In addition, patrons may call Airport operators at (949) 252-5006 for up-to-date parking availability.

 Q. Who do we call for more information?

 A. Please call Ann Gill at (949) 252-5176 for more information.

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