Boise Airport staff outline Concourse A phasing, recommend Hensel Phelps for CM/GC preconstruction

City staff updated the council on the airport’s Concourse A project and broader BOI upgrades, describing rapid passenger growth and a phased approach that prioritizes baggage handling and a central utility plant so Concourse A can open with required systems in place.

“Just a reminder, all of this is funded with airport funds. None of this is funded with general tax fund or general revenue,” Rebecca Hupp told the council when explaining funding sources and the BOI upgrade program. Staff said the airport will use revenue bonds, passenger facility charges (PFCs), customer facility charges (CFCs), and airport revenue to finance the program. (00:21:26.)

Why it matters: Staff reported substantial passenger growth—an 81% increase over the last decade and almost 1 million more passengers in 2024 compared with 2019—and said those increases are driving capacity and operational changes at the terminal. The Concourse A work is intended to add gate capacity, modernize baggage handling, and improve passenger flow; work will be phased to manage cost and operations.

What staff presented

- Passenger growth and funding: Staff presented multi‑year growth figures and said the BOI upgrade program started before COVID and is funded from airport enterprise sources only (PFCs, CFCs, bonds, and airport revenue). (00:19:43; 00:21:26.)

- Recent enabling projects: Staff recapped completed and ongoing work that enabled Concourse A, including TSA checkpoint improvements, an East public parking garage (adding ~1,000 close‑in spaces), an employee parking garage, and the consolidated rental car facility (ConRAC) under construction and expected to open in 2026. (00:22:31–00:24:15.)

- Concourse A priorities and phasing: Deputy Director Beth Sumner said the baggage handling system replacement and a central utility plant are prerequisites to opening Concourse A; staff proposed phasing construction starting with seven southern gates and adding three northern gates later, citing geometry and cost. Sumner emphasized flexibility, sustainable materials, and passenger experience in design. (00:25:45–00:30:01.)

- Procurement and schedule: The airport received seven statements of qualifications, shortlisted four firms, and conducted detailed interviews. Staff recommended Hensel Phelps Construction Company as CM/GC; the recommendation will be on the Aug. 19 council agenda. Staff intends to issue a notice to proceed for preconstruction services in September, move through preconstruction into March 2027, and then begin phased construction with GMP amendments returned to council for approval. (00:31:07–00:32:23.)

Council questions and staff responses

Council members asked about exterior work versus interior remodeling (staff said the current Concourse A design is primarily interior with a future terminal roof project and an elevated roadway in 2026), capacity impacts, the possibility of another local commercial airport, and whether Concourse A could accommodate a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility.

On CBP, staff said the project will be built with “maximum flexibility” but cautioned that CBP design standards are complex and costly and that a full flight inspection facility (FIS) is unlikely in Boise unless sustained demand justified it. Staff noted Boise already has CBP on the airfield for diversions. (00:49:54–00:51:17.)

Operational capacity: Staff described the airport as an origin-and‑destination market rather than a transfer hub, with peak demand in morning and evening periods and recurrent capacity constraints at peak times. Airport staff said apron expansions and overnight parking (RON) accommodations will be used to allow larger aircraft and additional overnight aircraft as airlines request service. (00:45:35–00:48:22.)

Procurement next steps

Staff will present a contract recommendation for CM/GC services (Hensel Phelps) on the Aug. 19 council agenda and seek a notice to proceed for preconstruction in September. Individual GMP amendments for baggage handling, central utility plant, apron, concourse, and terminal improvements will return to council for approval as the project moves from preconstruction to construction.

Sources: Presentation by Rebecca Hupp and Beth Sumner; council Q&A recorded in meeting transcript.