Port approves $93.3 million purchase order for new CT6 East parking garage; shuttle costs approved to cover construction impacts

The Port Canaveral Authority approved a purchase order for the reconstruction and expansion of Cruise Terminal 6 (CT6) East Garage, awarding a package valued at $93,300,000 and authorizing related site work and connections to existing terminals.

Port capital staff described the project as the largest purchase order in Port Canaveral history. The base bid covers a 10-elevated-floor structure with 2,902 parking spaces; alternate scopes would bring the structure to 13 elevated stories and roughly 3,611 spaces, and the port plans a total build-out of about 3,732 spaces after finishing the top floor. The project also includes demolition of the existing roughly 800-space CT6 East Garage, elevated and covered pedestrian access to the CT5 garage, and two vehicular connecting bridges linking the new facility to CT6 West and adjacent facilities.

Project delivery and operations: Port project staff said the design includes opposing duplicate ramps on each level to speed circulation, eight elevators and staged substantial completion. Substantial completion for roughly half the structure (about 1,850 spaces) is targeted for the end of next September, with final completion expected roughly two months after that. The port said the ramp arrangement will let drivers bypass alternate floors and experience the facility as nearer in scale to current six- or seven-floor garages.

Contracting and cost controls: The port identified IVES FinFrock (contractor team) as the prime and noted a reduced contractor markup on the garage components of about 2.75 percent, a lower combined fee than typical for similarly scaled work, which staff highlighted as a cost-control outcome.

Construction impacts and shuttle funding: Because the CT6 construction removes existing parking (including an 820-space lot), the commission separately approved a $2,500,000 allocation for shuttle operations during the peak season. Port staff said roughly $2,000,000 of that forecast is to shuttle employees to the south side for terminals 5, 6 and 8, and roughly $500,000 covers routine guest and employee shuttling at CT5 and other terminals while construction is underway. Ground transportation staff said the shuttling will primarily be needed during the winter cruise season and as construction activity increases next year.

Approvals and next steps: The purchase order and related contract supplements were approved as part of the meetingconsent agenda; the larger consent package carried by motion and vote. Port staff said they will mobilize construction and staged openings, provide scheduling updates and work to limit disruptions to cruise operations.

Speakers and roles: Patrick Hammond was identified as the project manager on the CT6 garage; Veronica Narvaez Lugo and Bill (engineering lead) were noted as senior project staff supporting delivery; Mark Millison provided pricing context for exploration-tower leasing questions during a separate discussion; and John Ashley, senior manager of ground transportation, outlined the shuttle cost estimate.

What remains: Staff will finalize contractor schedules, coordinate demolition of the existing garage and provide monthly updates on construction milestones and shuttle operations.