Committee clears surface lot and 6,000-space garage to advance terminal modernization

The Mobility Committee of the Cleveland City Council approved emergency ordinances to build a 1,600-space surface parking lot (the “Gold Lot”) and advance design-build contracting for a future 6,000-plus space parking structure, a ground transportation center and a new RTA station at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

The work is part of the Terminal Modernization Development Program (TMDP), branded in the meeting as “CLEVOLUTION,” and is funded with airport revenue and revenue bonds backed by airline-approved rate funding rather than local tax dollars.

The Director of Port Control described the Gold Lot as a surface parking facility “It will comprise approximately 1,600 revenue generating spaces for the traveling public.” The Gold Lot will be located on existing concrete pavement on the east side of Concourse D and include pavement repairs, striping, lighting, parking management equipment, fencing, a covered walkway to the terminal, shuttle bus shelters, security features, signage and landscaping. The director gave an estimated cost of “approximately 21,500,000.0” and said the project will be funded by issuance of revenue bonds.

The committee also moved forward on an ordinance for a design-build professional services contract to build a new parking structure on the site of the existing orange lot. The director said that structure will provide “roughly 6,000 spaces” and will include an underground or tunneled pedestrian connection to the terminal head house while the new head house is constructed, a new ground transportation center for shuttles and commercial carriers, and a relocated RTA station beneath the parking structure. The estimated price discussed in committee for that work was stated as $301,000,000; committee members noted a discrepancy between that figure and the administrative report and directed staff to correct the administrative report before the item proceeds to finance.

Council members pressed project sequencing and disruption planning. Dennis Kramer, assistant director, airport development, explained the schedule: Gold Lot design targeted for the fall, construction beginning early next year and operational by the following fall, allowing the airport to close the orange lot and proceed with the parking garage and eventual new terminal head house. The director said the larger garage design is expected to start this fall with construction beginning late next year, and the facility to be operational in late 2028 or early 2029.

Committee discussion addressed Concourse D, which the director said has been closed since 2014 and remains subject to payments on special facility bonds tied to the former hub carrier; the director said the master plan had contemplated demolition but that no final decision on Concourse D’s fate has been made.

Both ordinances were approved in committee with the understanding staff will correct the administrative report price and other administrative matters before the items move to finance.

Details, timelines and financing remain subject to future approvals, bond market timing and continued coordination with the airlines and RTA.