The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority plans a Spring 2017 beginning to construction on a new commuter concourse on the north side of Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), the largest piece of an estimated $1 billion renovation to the airport.
AIR Alliance, a joint venture of AECOM and PGAL transportation architecture and engineering firms, has begun design on the project, though no construction contracts have yet been awarded.
The project will not increase capacity but will provide a more comfortable, inside setting for passengers of regional jets, says Rob Yingling, a spokesman for MWAA. Currently passengers on those planes at Terminal C must ride an escalator to a holding area, exit through one of five doors to a shuttle bus, take the shuttle to their plane and board outside.
“It’s not as comfortable an environment as we want our customers to experience,” Yingling says of the current setup.
The project also is expected to result in a new security checkpoint located between the ticketing and concourse level. This will move many pre-security concessions beyond security and allow for greater movement between piers without requiring passengers to pass through screening second time.
“Passengers will also have greater opportunity to enjoy all the stores and restaurants at the airport without feeling rushed to move past security first,” Yingling says, adding that the plan is for additional space for food and retail to result from the project, as well as additional parking. Those details have not yet been finalized, he adds.
The renovation was first reported by the Washington Post, which notes that this will be one of the biggest building projects the airport has undergone in two decades. Airport officials note, however, that this does not add airside capacity and accounts for less than 5 percent of the current airport footprint.
DCA has grown significantly in recent years and the airport serviced more than 23 million passengers in 2015.
