Allegheny County Airport Authority announced plans to remodel the terminal at Pittsburgh International (PIT). Officials expect to break ground on the project in 2019 with an anticipated completion in 2023.
The PIT modernization plan acknowledges the vastly changed landscape for air travel at the former US Airways hub. The airport said the current facility is much too large in some areas and capacity constrained in others.
The centerpiece of the plan involves a new landside terminal adjacent to the renovated airside terminal with 51 gates, 12 more than are being used today. In addition, the new look of PIT will include an expanded security checkpoint, the elimination of the train, a newly configured international arrivals process, more modern technology put in place throughout the terminal, an improved baggage delivery system and a new parking garage.
The current budget, based on early conceptual designs, is $1.1 billion. More detailed cost estimates will be available as the project reaches final design. The project is expected to create more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and produce $1.66 billion in economic activity and doesn’t include the use of local tax dollars.
“We are excited to make this Pittsburgh’s airport – a facility that is optimized for the needs of the local passenger and today’s aviation environment. This facility gives us the ability to truly make this the gateway to our region and continues our ascent as industry leaders,” said Christina Cassotis, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO. “This is about being much more operationally efficient with a technology focus to position us for the future.”
