Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Boise Airport unveils $800M‑plus Concourse A plan and runway reconstruction timeline
Loading...
Summary
Airport director Rebecca Hupp and deputy director Beth Sumner briefed the council on a multi‑year Capital Improvement Program that includes Concourse A enabling projects (~$823M), runway reconstruction (~$272M), apron/taxiway work (~$90M), and program financing that anticipates bridge financing in 2026 and major bond issuances in 2027 and 2029.
The Boise Airport presented a multi‑year Capital Improvement Program that airport staff said is intended to meet sustained passenger growth and prepare the facility for the next several decades.
Rebecca Hupp, the airport director, told the council Boise’s region has grown faster than the national average and the airport has seen more than 2 million additional passengers since 2019 and exceeded 5 million passengers last year. To meet demand, staff described a 20‑year master plan and a five‑year CIP for near‑term capital investments.
Key estimates presented include roughly $823,000,000 for Concourse A enabling projects (a broad figure that includes design, project management and paving), $272,000,000 for runway reconstruction, about $90,000,000 for other airfield work (apron and taxiways), and an estimated $100,000,000 later for Concourse B needs. Hupp emphasized these are current best estimates and said the airport will phase work over many years.
Beth Sumner, deputy director of engineering, planning and development, reviewed project‑level details: an ongoing two‑year reconstruction of the north runway after asphalt layer delamination was found (work to be staged to preserve operations), apron and parking expansions, taxi lane widening to accommodate a Micron aircraft (to be reimbursed by Micron under a reimbursable agreement), and a replacement baggage handling system with site prep expected this fall and about a 2½‑year build and commissioning period.
On funding, Hupp described airport financing tools including FAA grants, passenger facility charges (PFCs), airport revenue streams (parking, landing fees, concessions), bond financings and tenant agreements. Staff said they will seek bridge financing (a letter of credit) in 2026 to cash‑flow projects and expect to issue bonds in larger, consolidated issuances (an estimated ~$400 million in 2027 and another ~$400 million in 2029) to finance major construction. Hupp cautioned that market conditions will affect final amounts and timing.
Council members asked about master plan timing and design choices; staff said the master plan is an 18–24 month effort and that the FAA must approve the forecast and airport layout plan. Staff also described work to improve passenger circulation, accessibility (escalators/elevators), common use technology (CAPS) for flexible gate and counter use, and design elements that reflect Boise’s identity, including public art and the possibility of mass timber in the concourse.
Staff said they will return to council with the master plan and formal requests for financing authority and bond resolution approvals as the projects move from design toward procurement and construction.
