Pinellas County seeks design approval for 4-level, design-build airport garage as parking crunch intensifies

Pinellas County officials told commissioners they plan to seek approval for design services next week for a multi-level parking garage at St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport to address recurring capacity shortages.

Mark Sprague, the airport’s interim director, summarized a parking study showing continued passenger growth — "we have surpassed the 2,560,000 passengers at the November this year" — and described repeated long-term lot closures that have forced passengers into economy shuttle lots and created long waits. Staff recommended building a four-level parking structure on the Strawberry lot adjacent to the terminal to add roughly 2,000–2,300 new spaces and preserve existing short- and long-term inventory.

Sprague outlined funding as a three-part plan: airport customer facility charges (CFCs) including a $4-per-day rental-car fee implemented about four years ago; anticipated grant support from the Florida Department of Transportation for signage and circulation work; and the use of airport reserves (staff cited "a little over $30,000,000" available, describing the proposed draw as about one-third of reserves). "This parking structure will be paid in full. No loans, no bonds," Sprague said.

The county is seeking to use a design-build procurement and has selected FinFrock as the recommended firm for pre-construction/design services; Kyle Myers, FinFrock vice president, described the firm’s parking-garage experience. Sprague asked the board to approve the award of pre-construction services at the Dec. 16 meeting so the contractor can finalize design criteria and provide construction costs. Construction approval would follow when costs are known.

Commissioners voiced support but pressed staff on cost and value. Commissioner Nowicki noted the project’s approximate $60 million cost and asked whether all surface-parking options had been exhausted; staff said there is no additional surface land available and that the project meets short-term needs while preserving future options closer to the terminal. Questions also covered the design-build fee cap (staff said the county contract includes a 5% cap on fee), the shuttle plan and Transportation Network Company staging, and FAA height concerns for adding an additional level. Staff said a fifth floor would likely trigger FAA review and the four-level plan is the vetted option.

Next steps: staff requested board approval on Dec. 16 to award pre-construction services to the selected design-build firm and committed to return next year with final construction costs and a request for construction authorization.