View Full Version : Consolidated Rental Car Facility



Pages : [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7

Pete
12-17-2009, 02:26 PM
development
|category1=transportation
|category2=
|category3=
|category4=
|
|project=
|address=
|status=under construction
|owner=OKC Airport Trust
|cost=$38 million
|architect=Guernsey
|start=2013
|finish=August, 2015
|contractor=
|height=
|sq. feet=19,400
|acreage=7.6
|other=900 ready parking spaces
|
|image=http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rentalcarwiki1.jpg
|

Information & Latest News
12/17/09: http://newsok.com/consultant-suggests-building-new-facility-to-house-rental-cars-at-will-rogers-world-airport/article/3425536
Links
County Assessor Record
Gallery

UnFrSaKn
12-17-2009, 02:28 PM
Interesting..since I work for Avis now by the garage, and used to work at Enterprise up the road. I still have to get off Meridian from Airport Road so I wonder how that will effect airport traffic.

BoulderSooner
12-17-2009, 02:38 PM
the 3 bucks a rental extra and the 2 min ride .. should really not effect anything and this is needed in the future

betts
12-17-2009, 02:39 PM
If the rental car agencies truly don't have enough room for the cars needed by demand, then perhaps we don't have any choice. Also, I could see this if we need the space for people flying out of OKC to park. For instance, if it were doing this or building another parking garage, maybe it would be time to change to the system used in bigger cities. If it satisfies needs for more room and gives us more covered parking, then I would be in favor. But, I don't think we necessarily need valet or luxury parking.

Pete
12-17-2009, 03:07 PM
I could understand the perspective from a local's point of view but there is no proxy for the visitors who will be greatly inconvenienced.

The rental car companies can merely continue shuttling cars from lots down the road. This has worked fine for quite some time and it's not like all the sudden traffic has picked up at the airport.

Remember too that the way the airport was designed is that the curbs to pick up shuttle busses and the like are separated from the termina and although there are canopies, that does not shelter you much from the wind, heat, rain and snow.

Every time I make that relatively short walk between the terminal and the garage, I'm glad I don't have to stop out there and wait, because often times the weather is miserable.


And finally, if they want to invest in something that will make the airport work better, build a waiting area DOWNSTAIRS near the baggage claim. I've never seen an airport -- especially a new one -- where people waiting for arrivers are up in the ticketing area. It's absurd and a serious design flaw.

Imagine how bad that will be if and when another terminal is added.

bombermwc
12-17-2009, 04:44 PM
Jacksonville, FL is a little bit bigger than OKC, but for all purposes, we're about the same. They are also expanding their airport and already have at-airport rentals. Their rental facilities are on the first floor of their parking garage...which is closer to the terminal than OKC's. In fact is a mere 3 lanes worth of traffic away. It's always MUCH better than having to use any shuttle at all because you don't waste time coming or going. Waiting on the shuttles sucks....I've had to wait as much as an hour before when leaving an airport and in a business situation, that can be a deal killer. Not to mention getting on the return flight. If you drive yourself to the return at the airport for ALL brands, walk a few feet and BAM, there you go. It's a HUGE time and stress saver. And you don't have to worry about some crazy shuttle driver (and they all are nuts).

I for one am glad they are doing it, but I would rather see a third garage built with rental on the first floor of one the closest...just like JAX.

BoulderSooner
12-17-2009, 05:59 PM
i fly all over the country and fail to see how moving the rental spot 2 min down the road is any great inconvenience

HOT ROD
12-17-2009, 07:24 PM
I agree Boulder, I travel often too and OKC's new rental car facility will not be bad at all. BWI's rental car facility, it's 20 minutes away from the terminal; I think OKC's will be just down the street (a mere 5 minutes or less).

And, I have been one of those travelers who consistently is without rental cars (or with a choice of one or two, that's it) when I come to OKC. And I am a LOYAL National renter (who is offsite by the way - so I already take shuttle even further than this new one will be).

Pete, it's not as if OKC is "acting" like the big boys - it is OKC has BECOME one of the big boys and needs expanded facilities. The days of the small time OKC are long gone.

I also think OKC should start charging the fee immediately so the facility can be built within no time and house ALL of the rental car companies, they can still chose to have offsite as well.

Kerry
12-17-2009, 10:01 PM
If they do this it would be a big plus if they connected the terminal to the rental car area by a rail system. Atlanta opened their's last week.

Atlanta Opens Its Central Rental Car Facility, With a Train - The Middle Seat Terminal - WSJ (http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009/12/08/atlanta-opens-its-central-rental-car-facility-with-a-train/)


The wave of airports building centralized rental car centers now reaches Atlanta, where a new facility opens Tuesday with one major benefit over many others: A “SkyTrain” straight from the main terminal.

For the past decade airlines across the country have consolidated rental car company lots into a single facility. Instead of each rental car company running buses through the airport and each company having its own lot, busing is shared, car company counters and cars are side-by-side and valuable real estate around airports is freed up.

...

Cleveland and San Francisco both opened consolidated rental car facilities in 1998 and since then they have opened in Albuquerque, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Kansas City, Fort Lauderdale and other major airports. More are planned, such as Miami, San Jose, Memphis and New Orleans.

bretthexum
12-17-2009, 10:10 PM
I can see this working if they had some sort of train/tram connecting it with only a few minute wait on each end. But I agree tho, those off airport rental cars place suck. I used to travel all the time and what a pain. Then get on a crowded bus and stack the luggage, then get off, get the luggage unloaded, etc. At least with a train you can just roll the bags right on and off.

MadMonk
12-17-2009, 10:25 PM
I was just in Phoenix and they have an awesome off-site rental car facility. It's a 10 minute bus ride away, which is a bit further than I was expecting, but it was only a slight inconvenience and I think the pros outweigh the cons. A train system would be even better.

HOT ROD
12-18-2009, 05:36 AM
If they do this it would be a big plus if they connected the terminal to the rental car area by a rail system. Atlanta opened their's last week.

Atlanta Opens Its Central Rental Car Facility, With a Train - The Middle Seat Terminal - WSJ (http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009/12/08/atlanta-opens-its-central-rental-car-facility-with-a-train/)

SkyTrain is the name of Vancouver Canada's very extensive subway system. :numchucks

I wonder if that is the real name Atlanta is trying to use or if the article is just using it in reference to it being an airport tram.

Kerry
12-18-2009, 06:49 AM
SkyTrain is the name of Vancouver Canada's very extensive subway system. :numchucks

I wonder if that is the real name Atlanta is trying to use or if the article is just using it in reference to it being an airport tram.

It is the actual name of the system. Here is a photo of the new rental car facility in Atlanta.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartsfield-jackson/4190719624/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartsfield-jackson/4190719624/

On the trip between the terminal and the rental car hub it makes a stop at the Georgia International Convention Center. The whole trip takes 5 minutes and is just over 2 miles.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartsfield-jackson/4113333242/in/set-72157622836713701/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hartsfield-jackson/4113333242/in/set-72157622836713701/

Larry OKC
12-18-2009, 07:22 AM
SkyTrain is the name of Vancouver Canada's very extensive subway system.

Did someone get confused? Skytrain sounds like an raised, above ground monorail not a below ground subway.

Soonerus
12-18-2009, 07:54 AM
I was just in Phoenix and they have an awesome off-site rental car facility. It's a 10 minute bus ride away, which is a bit further than I was expecting, but it was only a slight inconvenience and I think the pros outweigh the cons. A train system would be even better.


I was in Phoenix earlier this week and thought the rental car facility set-up was a real pain, although the facilty was very nice it just added unneeded minutes to my travel time...

Kerry
12-18-2009, 08:23 AM
Did someone get confused? Skytrain sounds like an raised, above ground monorail not a below ground subway.

It is because the system is mostly elevated above ground (so not really a total subway).

Pete
12-18-2009, 11:02 AM
I was in Phoenix earlier this week and thought the rental car facility set-up was a real pain

I was just there a month ago and *hated* that experience.


By the way, there was an article today that said ridership is finally slightly up for the first time in a year... So why all the sudden do we need to do this?

And for those saying it's a 2-minute ride -- it's not the ride itself. It's the waiting around for the bus, getting on and off with your luggage and then being dumped into the rental lines all at once with a busload of others.

And if we're comparing, I was just in Milwaukee -- much bigger airport -- and they have a great rental car facility built into the ground floor of the parking garage directly across the street.

Why couldn't we merely add more parking structure to the north end and give more space to the car companies in their current location? After all, there is an enclosed tunnel to take people to the current garages... Why not extend it?

Kerry
12-18-2009, 12:10 PM
I don't know - I did it for 4 months while flying into San Jose/San Francisco and never found it to be a big deal. In San Jose we had to take a bus and of course San Francisco had the Rental Car Train.

I actully found it better because I was able to get out of the airport faster. The remote car rental facilites were closer to the freeway and I was able to avoid airport traffic which usually consisted of people that didn't know where they were going.

I realize OKC doens't have the traffic at the airport some cities do and this plan will prevent that from happening.

rcjunkie
12-18-2009, 12:43 PM
In my opinion, let's leave it to the professional's at the Airport, I'm sure they wouldn't propose this if they didn't feel that it was in the best, long term interest of the Airport.

If they had announced "Airport decides to leave car rental in present location", some of the posters on here would be stating, "that's crazy, they need to move it, around SW 54th and Meridian there's all that unused land.

You can't please everybody all the time.

MadMonk
12-18-2009, 02:46 PM
I actully found it better because I was able to get out of the airport faster. The remote car rental facilites were closer to the freeway and I was able to avoid airport traffic which usually consisted of people that didn't know where they were going.

Exactly. Getting away from the airport and it's associated traffic and getting on the freeway to where you are going is more important to me than the inconveniences of the bus trip to the rental facility.

I don't think traffic around the airport is that big of an issue here, but it doesn't hurt to plan for growth.

so1rfan
12-18-2009, 03:02 PM
I've been to Phoenix's twice and Denver's twice and Phoenix's is a bit better because one bus takes you to all rental companies. The wait for a bus is virtually non existent. Whereas in Denver, you wait for that specific companies bus to take you to the respective area. Both are off-site and a ten minute ride. But keep in mind the rentals there are probably ten times the number of cars here.

So a two minute ride once you get to OKC? I don't see the inconvenience, sorry. It's not like they're putting it Crossroads mall.

Hey... there's an idea.... I keed, I keed

SkyWestOKC
12-19-2009, 12:40 PM
The rental car lots are very bad when you look at them. They take up a ton of space on our airport grounds that could be used for other functions. Although the current facilities and program is working now, we must look forward a few years.

Moving it is a good idea because it not only increases future capacity for rental cars, but it also frees up space for other facilities:

When the new terminal is built, belly cargo will be moved north to just where the current employee lot is. The current employee lot is crowded and a bit dilapidated. I think they can build a new employee lot close to where the current rental car facilties are after the move. We can't build a new terminal if we don't have anywhere to park the employees that work in it. We also can't build one if we don't have the proper facilities to accommodate the theoretical increase in demand.

Here is a pic of the proposed location for the new rental car facilities:

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt25/skywestokc/pkng1.jpg
Here is a pic I made of the parking situation:

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt25/skywestokc/PKNGMAP.jpg

HOT ROD
12-19-2009, 06:36 PM
Did someone get confused? Skytrain sounds like an raised, above ground monorail not a below ground subway.

Vancouver's SkyTrain is a subway network consisting of 3 lines. When it began, SkyTrain was a spinoff of the 86 world's fair in Vancouver - that was an elevated system outside of the core and that was the basis of it's name. In the downtown areas, it was always underground.

Since then, there have been two other lines built. The 2nd line is elevated like the first but goes through a different suburb. The 3rd line opened this summer and is half subway (through all of the city of Vancouver) and elevated (once it gets to the airport and the south suburb).

I would say, SkyTrain is now 40% underground and 60% elevated.

By the way, a rail system does not need to be underground to be a subway as MOST if not ALL subways have on and above ground portions (see NYC Subway, Toronto Subway, DC Metro, Chicago El, BART, SkyTrain, on and on).

Being a subway has more to do with capacity, right of way (exclusive), and the use of 3rd rail. Usually subways/rapid transit also use heavy rail vehicles.

Each line of Vancouver's SkyTrain is designed for at least 15,000 people per hour per direction. SkyTrain's main (Expo line) gets 30,000 pphpd.

By comparison, our new Light Rail in Seattle gets on average only 16,000 riders TOTAL in a whole day. Surprisingly, Portland's much more extensive light rail MAX only has double Seattle's pax capacity.

Vancouver SkyTrain alone, in a day will have 500,000 pax (more pax than the total capacity of Seattle's extensive bus system and all of Portland's transit options). That capacity is the biggest differentiator between 'subway/rapid transit' and light rail.

jbrown84
12-20-2009, 05:31 PM
Here is a pic of the proposed location for the new rental car facilities:


Thanks for the maps. For some reason I was picturing it way north on Meridian, like north of Airport Rd. by Winery's or whatever it's called these days. The name literally changed when I was gone for a week in September. We came back and the bus had already been repainted with new logos.

SkyWestOKC
12-20-2009, 06:49 PM
Also, Pete - the current demand is there. You just do not see it because the space is needed for other things.

-The 1st floor of the short term is reserved for rental car ready/return. The 2nd floor is for short term, which at some times is completely full.

-The Employee Lot will need to be replaced/moved before the new concourse can be constructed to make way for Belly Cargo.

-Belly Cargo is air line cargo and sorting. It is that brown/gray steel building east of the terminal. It is important to flight ops, and needs to be close to the gates.

-The Rental Car lots are currently an eye sore and take up a lot of space that could be used for other purposes such as: new Employee Parking, restaurants, overflow peak parking, more parking for AAR and the new General Aviation Terminal.

So, just because the rental cars are not in full swing does not mean it is not needed. It will have to be done in order for the new concourse to be built.

jbrown84
12-20-2009, 08:22 PM
SkyWest, how quickly are they planning to start the east concourse? I thought that was on hold.

SkyWestOKC
12-20-2009, 09:05 PM
I think it is on hold. But it is not off the table, I think they are still waiting on a design to be presented to the Trust. After that, various contractors will bid on the job, then the winning bidder will be in charge of constructing it. I'd say it will be 2011 before anything happens with it. The work that has to be done first is move Belly Cargo. It will move north a few hundred feet and rotated to an angle parallel the terminal building/concourse as depicted in my picture.

The loss of Employee Parking will use some of the overflow lots from what I am hearing.

UnFrSaKn
01-24-2013, 10:58 AM
Been meaning to pass this along.

PGAL: Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) Consolidated Rental Car Facility (ConRAC) (http://www.pgal.com/portfolio/will-rogers-world-airport-okc-consolidated-rental/)

http://www.pgal.com/media/portfolio/OKC_Preffered_Option_9-ALT_02.21.12.jpg

Just the facts
01-24-2013, 11:54 AM
38 acres surface lot and a short 1.6 mile bus ride.... Only in OKC does any of that make sense. Do they actually believe their own stuff that they write?


Desire for a high level of customer service and a positive customer experience has led to development of planning models that minimize land area usage and impact on the environment while maximizing efficiency and security of the overall rental car operations.

If they wanted to waste space and minimize efficiency what would they do differently? With a nearly 4 mile round trip plus stopping to drop and pick up passengers how long will a person have to wait until the next bus comes by?

catch22
01-24-2013, 12:08 PM
I believe the airport has said 10-15 minute headways.

Pete
01-24-2013, 12:16 PM
As I've stated many times, I hate this idea.

It's yet another way to tax those without representation. This will be paid for with increased rental car fees which are shouldered by people in no position to influence the decision.

The add-on rental car fees at WRWA are already outrageous. These are the fees associated with a weekly rental I am booking for February:

247.49 PER WEEK RENTAL FEE 247.49
10.89 PCT APT CONC RECOV FEE 26.95
4.50 PER DAY FACILITY CHARGE 31.50
14.38 PCT STATE TAX 43.98
Total = $349.92

And here they are for Los Angeles International:

254.04 PER WEEK RENTAL FEE 254.04
LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORT FEE 10 10.00
AIRPORT CONCESSION FEE 11.10 PCT 28.20
TRAVEL AND TOURISM FEE 3.50 PCT 8.89
STATE SALES TAX 9.75 PCT 27.52
Total = $328.65



Plus, I absolutely loathe having to lug my crap onto a shuttle bus, be driven miles away and then get dumped into a facility where everyone arrives in one big group, creating a gotta-jump-off-the-bus-and-beat-everyone-else hassle. And then ultimately, getting stuck in line because the people come in clusters rather than trickling in naturally.

Once this is implemented, I will visit OKC less. I bet others will as well.

LakeEffect
01-24-2013, 12:20 PM
38 acres surface lot and a short 1.6 mile bus ride.... Only in OKC does any of that make sense. Do they actually believe their own stuff that they write?



If they wanted to waste space and minimize efficiency what would they do differently? With a nearly 4 mile round trip plus stopping to drop and pick up passengers how long will a person have to wait until the next bus comes by?

I've been to other airports with much longer rides for off-site car rental. Not a big deal.

Pete
01-24-2013, 12:28 PM
I've been to other airports with much longer rides for off-site car rental. Not a big deal.

With all due respect, it's not a big deal because it won't affect you.

I am not aware of another airport of OKC's size that has such a massive off-site rental car facility. I can think of many larger airports that do not have this.


Also, why is this suddenly needed? We've added tons of parking structures and airport traffic hasn't exactly sky-rocketed over the last several years. Haven't we been flat for a while?

BoulderSooner
01-24-2013, 12:29 PM
I've been to other airports with much longer rides for off-site car rental. Not a big deal.

i agree

BoulderSooner
01-24-2013, 12:30 PM
With all due respect, it's not a big deal because it won't affect you.

I am not aware of another airport of OKC's size that has such a massive off-site rental car facility. I can think of many larger airports that do not have this.


Also, why is this suddenly needed? We've added tons of parking structures and airport traffic hasn't exactly sky-rocketed over the last several years. Haven't we been flat for a while?

sky harbour in PHX

BoulderSooner
01-24-2013, 12:31 PM
38 acres surface lot and a short 1.6 mile bus ride.... Only in OKC does any of that make sense. Do they actually believe their own stuff that they write?



If they wanted to waste space and minimize efficiency what would they do differently? With a nearly 4 mile round trip plus stopping to drop and pick up passengers how long will a person have to wait until the next bus comes by?

how is 3.2 nearly 4?

catch22
01-24-2013, 12:33 PM
With all due respect, it's not a big deal because it won't affect you.

I am not aware of another airport of OKC's size that has such a massive off-site rental car facility. I can think of many larger airports that do not have this.


Also, why is this suddenly needed? We've added tons of parking structures and airport traffic hasn't exactly sky-rocketed over the last several years. Haven't we been flat for a while?
As slow as the airport works on things... This could still very well be 5 years away....

Just the facts
01-24-2013, 12:49 PM
how is 3.2 nearly 4?

I used 'wife' math.

Pete
01-24-2013, 12:53 PM
BTW, OKC is the 66th largest U.S. airport in terms of enplanements.

Smaller than Omaha, Warwick, Reno, Tuscon and Burbank.

Not much larger than Spokane, Boise, Norfolk and Long Beach.


And yet we need a massive, off-site rental car facility??

catch22
01-24-2013, 12:58 PM
BTW, OKC is the 66th largest U.S. airport in terms of enplanements.

Smaller than Omaha, Warwick, Reno, Tuscon and Burbank.

Not much larger than Spokane, Boise, Norfolk and Long Beach.


And yet we need a massive, off-site rental car facility??

Oh, but Pete, we're a major-big league city now! :D

Pete
01-24-2013, 01:05 PM
Also, from 2001 to 2011 enplanements at WRWA have increased less than 4%!

From 2005, they are actually down.


Where is the need??

catch22
01-24-2013, 01:09 PM
I think it's more of a long term issue they are planning for. Moving rental cars offsite will allow certain things to move around to allow for a terminal expansion when the need arises.

They are moving the cargo building (attached to the concourse) where the current employee lot is, and they will leventually move the employee lot to where the old rental car facility was. They have the money to do it now, so it is a wise long term move to start moving things now to allow for expansion of the terminal when it is time.

LakeEffect
01-24-2013, 02:47 PM
Also, from 2001 to 2011 enplanements at WRWA have increased less than 4%!

From 2005, they are actually down.


Where is the need??

According to Catch22, 2012 was back to the 2006 level, and 100,000 people short of the 2007 record year... so, growth is there. I'm continually amazed how often, even with the new garage, I've had to park on top of or even not in, the garages.

Just the facts
01-24-2013, 03:07 PM
I've got no problem with a consolidated rental car facility or even paying for it with a rental car tax, I just wish it was multi-level so the car I am about to get it is at a reasonable temperature and I can pick it up and return it without being exposed to the elements. I would also prefer to make the trip in a fixed guide-way tram that picks me up and drops me off in a climate controlled environment.

3G3la9DS0rg

HangryHippo
01-24-2013, 03:15 PM
I've got no problem with a consolidated rental car facility or even paying for it with a rental car tax, I just wish it was multi-level so the car I am about to get it is at a reasonable temperature and I can pick it up and return it without being exposed to the elements. I would also prefer to make the trip in a fixed guide-way tram that picks me up and drops me off in a climate controlled environment.

3G3la9DS0rg

ATL's rental car facility is really nice, but until they start revamping some of those terminals, it remains one of my least favorite airports.

Just the facts
01-24-2013, 03:28 PM
ATL's rental car facility is really nice, but until they start revamping some of those terminals, it remains one of my least favorite airports.

Terminal revamp is under way.

Pete
01-24-2013, 03:40 PM
I've got no problem with a consolidated rental car facility or even paying for it with a rental car tax, I just wish it was multi-level so the car I am about to get it is at a reasonable temperature and I can pick it up and return it without being exposed to the elements. I would also prefer to make the trip in a fixed guide-way tram that picks me up and drops me off in a climate controlled environment.

We have that now (all cars under cover and walk through underground tunnel) and will now instead have to stand out in the elements for a shuttle bus and go pick up a ridiculously hot or frozen car.

I can't tell you how much I hate this idea.

catch22
01-24-2013, 03:52 PM
We have that now (all cars under cover and walk through underground tunnel) and will now instead have to stand out in the elements for a shuttle bus and go pick up a ridiculously hot or frozen car.

I can't tell you how much I hate this idea.

The fact of the matter is, it's going to have to be done sooner or later. The current set-up is okay for the current demand, but in the future demand will be increasing and the current ready/return area in the garage is at capacity, in fact, over capacity because it is using the first floor of Garage B as ready/return also. So, it's taking capacity from our covered long-term parking also (which is also a revenue generator).

There weren't really many realistic options to keep it where it currently is. All of the options to expand the facility is to move it off-site. I agree that it is not the optimum set-up, maybe for the actual ready/return places they will be semi-covered? I don't know.

Right now would be the best time to build it because construction costs are lower and the airport project budget isn't under stress (there are no other large projects). This project is needed to allow space to move facilities around for the future terminal expansion (which probably isn't too far off, only 2 unleased gates at the airport right now, if US Airways comes in they would probably lease one and leave us with 1 unleased gate).

Just the facts
01-24-2013, 04:04 PM
We have that now (all cars under cover and walk through underground tunnel) and will now instead have to stand out in the elements for a shuttle bus and go pick up a ridiculously hot or frozen car.

I can't tell you how much I hate this idea.

I agree, that is why I suggest taking the existing setup, move it out of the way, and connect it by a tram that picks you up inside the terminal and drops you inside the car rental building. Did you watch the video I posted about the ATL Skytrain? Do you think anyone cared if it was raining or 41 degree? Nope, because the weather didn't apply to them; They didn't have to go outside or get in a car that is outside. Plus the Skytrain poicks up every 2 and half minutes which keeps the lines at the rental car counter to a minimum.

catch22
01-24-2013, 04:07 PM
I agree, that is why I suggest taking the existing setup, move it out of the way, and connect it by a tram that picks you up inside the terminal and drops you inside the car rental building. Did you watch the video I posted about the ATL Skytrain? Do you think anyone cared if it was raining or 41 degree? Nope, because the weather didn't apply to them; they didn't have to go outside or get in a car that is outside.
Someone more involved with the rail might be able to shed light on this...

I know rail is proposed to eventually go to the airport...any possibility the rail could have a stop at the rental facility? So you could basically be sharing the resources. If you have a rental car, you take the train to the rental facility just like other airports. If you are not getting off at the rental car facility, you stay on the train?

Pete
01-24-2013, 04:26 PM
I agree, that is why I suggest taking the existing setup, move it out of the way, and connect it by a tram that picks you up inside the terminal and drops you inside the car rental building. Did you watch the video I posted about the ATL Skytrain? Do you think anyone cared if it was raining or 41 degree? Nope, because the weather didn't apply to them; They didn't have to go outside or get in a car that is outside. Plus the Skytrain poicks up every 2 and half minutes which keeps the lines at the rental car counter to a minimum.


We going to cheap out with lousy shuttle buses and a huge, flat parking lot.

It's going to be a horrible experience.

BoulderSooner
01-24-2013, 04:50 PM
I agree, that is why I suggest taking the existing setup, move it out of the way, and connect it by a tram that picks you up inside the terminal and drops you inside the car rental building. Did you watch the video I posted about the ATL Skytrain? Do you think anyone cared if it was raining or 41 degree? Nope, because the weather didn't apply to them; They didn't have to go outside or get in a car that is outside. Plus the Skytrain poicks up every 2 and half minutes which keeps the lines at the rental car counter to a minimum.

I'm sure we will in the future. The same as PHX is doing

UnFrSaKn
01-24-2013, 05:41 PM
We have that now (all cars under cover and walk through underground tunnel) and will now instead have to stand out in the elements for a shuttle bus and go pick up a ridiculously hot or frozen car.

I can't tell you how much I hate this idea.

The worst time of the year to work outside all day cleaning cars is when it's freezing and the car wash freezes, and we have no blower to remove water so it's ice before you drive out of the car wash. The side mirrors freeze over and I couldn't see to drive on a parking lot, if I didn't already know where to go. At least now they get parked in the garage out of the wind and can thaw out. Hopefully this facility will be well managed considering it's large and expensive and everything will be efficient from the ground up.

Just the facts
01-24-2013, 06:15 PM
You could do that but I'm not sure you would want to. First, the service frequency would be way to low for a terminal to rental facilty trip. A train from downtown to the airport might only run every half hour, but an effective car rental train would have to run ever 3 minutes. Second, the fare structure might not be capitable. For example, MARTA charges one fare to enter the station and you can go anywhere on the system you want once you are in but SEPTA (and I think DART) charges by zone. Finally, I don't think the car rental companies would want it.

catch22
01-24-2013, 08:36 PM
They could share the rail?

Just the facts
01-27-2013, 07:03 PM
They could share the rail?

They could yes but that would force them to use the same type of vehicle. Not sure if that would be an issue or not. Commuter rail has a driver and most car rental trams are automated.

metro
01-28-2013, 12:38 PM
As I've stated many times, I hate this idea.

It's yet another way to tax those without representation. This will be paid for with increased rental car fees which are shouldered by people in no position to influence the decision.

The add-on rental car fees at WRWA are already outrageous. These are the fees associated with a weekly rental I am booking for February:

247.49 PER WEEK RENTAL FEE 247.49
10.89 PCT APT CONC RECOV FEE 26.95
4.50 PER DAY FACILITY CHARGE 31.50
14.38 PCT STATE TAX 43.98
Total = $349.92

And here they are for Los Angeles International:

254.04 PER WEEK RENTAL FEE 254.04
LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORT FEE 10 10.00
AIRPORT CONCESSION FEE 11.10 PCT 28.20
TRAVEL AND TOURISM FEE 3.50 PCT 8.89
STATE SALES TAX 9.75 PCT 27.52
Total = $328.65



Plus, I absolutely loathe having to lug my crap onto a shuttle bus, be driven miles away and then get dumped into a facility where everyone arrives in one big group, creating a gotta-jump-off-the-bus-and-beat-everyone-else hassle. And then ultimately, getting stuck in line because the people come in clusters rather than trickling in naturally.

Once this is implemented, I will visit OKC less. I bet others will as well.


I've been to other airports with much longer rides for off-site car rental. Not a big deal.


With all due respect, it's not a big deal because it won't affect you.

I am not aware of another airport of OKC's size that has such a massive off-site rental car facility. I can think of many larger airports that do not have this.


Also, why is this suddenly needed? We've added tons of parking structures and airport traffic hasn't exactly sky-rocketed over the last several years. Haven't we been flat for a while?

While I agree this is a poor planning decision, it reminds me exactly of Albuquerque's off site parking situation, in which you had to take a shuttle bus about 10-15 minutes or so away from the airport. Also, I'd hate to lose your visits to OKC Pete over $20 and shuttle ride parking that isn't uncommon.

catch22
01-28-2013, 12:41 PM
Except for this is a 5 minute ride at most. If you catch both of the green lights, even shorter. It won't even feel like you have left the airport.

Bellaboo
01-28-2013, 12:49 PM
The last time I was in Denver, I took the Hertz shuttle bus to their lot. It was a good 10 -15 minute ride. All of the car lots are strictly large parking lots a couple of miles south of the Terminals. I see this as more convienient than those at DIA.

Just the facts
01-28-2013, 01:02 PM
Put a bus with 15 minute headways and an automated tram with 3 minute headways next to each other and see which one people ride.