Ive never heard of that!

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Josh, or any other person associated with WRWA, I've been searching the past month's Airport Trust agendas and haven't seen anything relating to the airport expansion project. Can you provide an update? Thanks.

Josh, or any other person associated with WRWA, I've been searching the past month's Airport Trust agendas and haven't seen anything relating to the airport expansion project. Can you provide an update? Thanks.

Stakeholder meetings have been held and the architects-engineers are now in the design phase. We hope to bring something for review/approval to the Trust in the next few months. After approval, construction docs will be developed and maybe then we'll have a preliminary timeline to share with you.

Stakeholder meetings have been held and the architects-engineers are now in the design phase. We hope to bring something for review/approval to the Trust in the next few months. After approval, construction docs will be developed and maybe then we'll have a preliminary timeline to share with you.

Thanks.

FYI if someone hasn't posted it, below are some shots of the renovation ongoing in the airport tunnel. Basically they painted all the walls white and replaced the old fluorescents with color alternating LEDs. Nothing extravagant, but it does look a lot better and much less depressing. The shot of the LED airplane window replicas is about a month old, so its probably closer to complete now.

May still be a few weeks. We are trying to develop a final punch list for our contractor. Station graphics are being installed currently. Lit LED signage is next and the screen over the video wall should come down soon as well. Cove lights are still being programmed so please forgive the inconsistency on those. We agree, the changes perk the place up a bit.

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[QUOTE=Josh Ryan;902154]May still be a few weeks. We are trying to develop a final punch list for our contractor. Station graphics are being installed currently. Lit LED signage is next and the screen over the video wall should come down soon as well. Cove lights are still being programmed so please forgive the inconsistency on those. We agree, the changes perk the place up a bit.
/QUOTE]

Agreed, it already seems a lot less stuffy down there and will reflect much better on the airport for out of towners. I figured the cove lights hadn't been programmed yet, but they looked good regardless. It makes walked to check in for those 5:30 AM flights more bearable.

Just released a brief survey on parking at WRWA and would like to get your input. You can take the survey here (http://goo.gl/forms/nVYL41IL8Q).

The airport is about to get new signage; this includes the roadways leading to the terminal, the terminal and concourse themselves, and parking areas.

Here are a few screenshots:

http://i.gyazo.com/f38375b6ccc7d4d8ddb6359a2cca251c.png
http://i.gyazo.com/31657fc9d47bccb2ff37fe31c8848952.png
http://i.gyazo.com/fb1d7e24248ae3cfa1adf08a91583512.png
http://i.gyazo.com/f6aaadbbbadb71e37e2a10153dd4059c.png
http://i.gyazo.com/49689f0ec1e6ec202218c41e07dc6cbb.png
http://i.gyazo.com/3f854dbb9d367513a3be52beb72b9442.png

The full presentation can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=2450711


Personally, I love it. The current signage sucks both from a visual standpoint and a functional standpoint. This has a modern look, while fitting in architecturally. This will also include more signs than are present now, which will help visitors and people who are unfamiliar with the layout.has this been built yet?

May still be a few weeks. We are trying to develop a final punch list for our contractor. Station graphics are being installed currently. Lit LED signage is next and the screen over the video wall should come down soon as well. Cove lights are still being programmed so please forgive the inconsistency on those. We agree, the changes perk the place up a bit.

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Couple of photos I took today of the airline windows in the hall.

To answer plutonic pandas question i didn't notice any new signage that was up.

has this been built yet?

The first phase of the wayfinding changes are going to be roadway and parking signage. Right now the expected timeline is that you will start seeing new signs in about 18 months. The timeline for terminal building signage will be closely aligned with the terminal expansion project.

Josh, any timeline or specific project details you can share re: the expansion?

Josh, any timeline or specific project details you can share re: the expansion?

Wish we could show you some of the conceptual work but it is still in design. Our planners, architects and engineers (FSB and HOK) have been doing a great job of designing with airport customer amenities in mind. Much of the design discussion has been geared toward improving checkpoint functionality and increasing gate/holding area capacity, while still leaving space for Customs.

As for a timeline, I had written this update a couple of weeks back: "Stakeholder meetings have been held and the architects-engineers are now in the design phase. We hope to bring something for review/approval to the Trust in the next few months. After approval, construction docs will be developed and maybe then we'll have a preliminary timeline to share with you."

Is Moe's still there? I still see it on the website but the last couple times I was there I didn't see signage for it.

Is Moe's still there? I still see it on the website but the last couple times I was there I didn't see signage for it.

With the others in the city closing a couple years ago, they might have just been/be finishing out the lease at the airport.

Is Moe's still there? I still see it on the website but the last couple times I was there I didn't see signage for it.

The manager for Delaware North told me this morning that Moe's is staying for now, but replacement options may be explored before the end of the year.

If they renew their lease, please make sure you include a requirement that they also re-open their other metro locations.

I'm only slightly kidding.

When I lived in Fl I had a Moes right across the street from me. I loved their food and was second only to Tijuana Flats when fast casual is concerned. Where exactly are they located in the airport? I am going to Spain in 47 days and might be dropped off at the airport hours before my flight leaves. It would be nice to eat there before taking off.

When I lived in Fl I had a Moes right across the street from me. I loved their food and was second only to Tijuana Flats when fast casual is concerned. Where exactly are they located in the airport? I am going to Spain in 47 days and might be dropped off at the airport hours before my flight leaves. It would be nice to eat there before taking off.

Central food court. By Schlotszkys Sonic and Salt Lick BBQ

I'm supremely disappointed with what replaced Moe's at Belle Isle (Freebirds).

I'm supremely disappointed with what replaced Moe's at Belle Isle (Freebirds).

OT, but Freebirds is far superior IMO. To each their own though.

The new signage looks pretty slick and more in-line with what you see at major airports around the country. Is definitely a step up!

Just filled out the parking survey too BTW.

Why is the newer northern half of the parking structure a different color than the older half? Seems like they should have painted it the same for conformity.

You've got 50 years of concrete again on the southern section there....I don't think they painted anything...it's just old vs new.

Why is the newer northern half of the parking structure a different color than the older half? Seems like they should have painted it the same for conformity.

We have a CIP to paint Garages B & C. But, as a part of our parking study, we are evaluating a future garage expansion that may factor into the painting project timeline.

Wow, with the rental cars moving out the last thing I expected to hear was that we were looking at building more garages. Not unappreciative of that info, just surprised.

Can I go into the secure area of the airport just to eat at Moes or do I need to be a ticketed passenger? I work at the MMAC, and eating at the airport would be the closest thing for me whilst working.

Can I go into the secure area of the airport just to eat at Moes or do I need to be a ticketed passenger? I work at the MMAC, and eating at the airport would be the closest thing for me whilst working.

Moe's is on the secure side so you would need to be a badged airport employee, need to have a gate pass or you would need to have gone through security as a ticketed traveler.

Bummer. I, too, am MMAC and my ears perked up for a sec....

Please build more garage parking. I have to park in shuttle parking WAY too often. There is a supply and demand issue here. The only other solution here is to raise the price of the garage which I would gladly pay.

Please build more garage parking. I have to park in shuttle parking WAY too often. There is a supply and demand issue here. The only other solution here is to raise the price of the garage which I would gladly pay.

I have banged this drum for a long time here. It seems the airport is missing out on increased revenues because I think the garage parking is too cheap.

Please build more garage parking. I have to park in shuttle parking WAY too often. There is a supply and demand issue here. The only other solution here is to raise the price of the garage which I would gladly pay.

I have banged this drum for a long time here. It seems the airport is missing out on increased revenues because I think the garage parking is too cheap.

We recognize that there is a demand for more covered parking and we're working toward meeting that goal. We're currently in the process of evaluating feasibility, potential locations and of course, costs/funding options for additional garage and surface parking. These studies will assist us in developing our plan of action.

That's great, Josh. I would recommend not building a garage that requires a shuttle. Convenience and covered is key. I wouldn't even mind a little train (think MSP Airport: you ride a short train from the garage to the terminal) if it's convenient. The shuttles are just so inconvenient.

I want to arrive, park, and walk (ride a train/ride a moving sidewalk) into the terminal, all quickly. And I'm willing to pay for it.

FYI - I do have a suggestion for the shuttles to make them less annoyingly slow when I have to take them. :) Instead of making them all go to each lot, in the same order (essentially), you should have shuttles dedicated to a particular lot. So if you park in the Covered Shuttle Lot (or any other lot for that matter), the shuttle driver only goes between that lot and the terminal-- back and forth. There is no wasted time on your arrival or departure in other of the spread out lots dropping off or picking up passengers.

I'm still waiting for the entire current facility to be scrapped and started over.

I'm still waiting for the entire current facility to be scrapped and started over.

yeah.....you're going to be waiting a long time.

And why don't people just take Ubers to the airport? It costs me $14-16 to get the airport. So starting at about 4 days (at current rates) it becomes cheaper to just uber there and back.

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath. Maybe after Tulsa builds a new terminal OKC will get on the ball. It would make a great MAPS 4 project.

yeah.....you're going to be waiting a long time.

And why don't people just take Ubers to the airport? It costs me $14-16 to get the airport. So starting at about 4 days (at current rates) it becomes cheaper to just uber there and back.

I certainly agree with this. I used to do that when the Shuttle service was $25. I'm sure Uber is better for being on time and may have run the shuttle out. Does it still operate?

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath. Maybe after Tulsa builds a new terminal OKC will get on the ball. It would make a great MAPS 4 project.

I wouldn't even think about a new terminal the possibility is so remote.

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath. Maybe after Tulsa builds a new terminal...

Actually TUL isn't going to build a new terminal anytime soon. It just recently completed an extensive refurbishment and renovation of its existing terminal and concourses, which included a new centralized checkpoint, expanding the hold rooms in the concourse gates, new flooring, signage etc etc. Besides, several gates sit empty and it handled only 2.84 million passengers in 2014. I imagine when the time comes, the airport will go for the option of expanding the current one.

As weird as it is to say I would gladly pay a few bucks more to park.

As weird as it is to say I would gladly pay a few bucks more to park.

I would as well. The last few times I have flown out I have had flights later in mid morning/early afternoon. I'm usually gone a week at a time...and the "extended stay" parking is ALWAYS FULL! So, I go ahead, and park in the hourly parking...and end up paying around $125-$150 to do so. If there would have been available extended stay parking, my cost would be around $35-$40 for the same duration.

That's great, Josh. I would recommend not building a garage that requires a shuttle. Convenience and covered is key. I wouldn't even mind a little train (think MSP Airport: you ride a short train from the garage to the terminal) if it's convenient. The shuttles are just so inconvenient.

I want to arrive, park, and walk (ride a train/ride a moving sidewalk) into the terminal, all quickly. And I'm willing to pay for it.

FYI - I do have a suggestion for the shuttles to make them less annoyingly slow when I have to take them. :) Instead of making them all go to each lot, in the same order (essentially), you should have shuttles dedicated to a particular lot. So if you park in the Covered Shuttle Lot (or any other lot for that matter), the shuttle driver only goes between that lot and the terminal-- back and forth. There is no wasted time on your arrival or departure in other of the spread out lots dropping off or picking up passengers.

Thanks for the suggestion and sorry about the slow reply. I wanted to check some details with our parking manager at ABM before I responded. He confirmed to me that his scheduling flows with the flight schedules and is dynamic based on the demand. On an average operation day, mornings are more focused on departures. The shuttles are often dedicated from lot to terminal. Morning arrivals have to ride a bit longer because of this. In the afternoon, the focus is more on arrivals. We have shuttles dedicated to Lots #1/#3 combined (1808 spaces) and Lot #2 (2433 spaces). The "split lot" routes typically run from 2p-11:30p.

Not sure if the demand is there to keep dedicated shuttles operating at all times for departures and arrivals but ABM is constantly tweaking their operation to make the shuttle lots convenient for passengers.

I typically like to fly out in the afternoon/evening and back at the same time, so I must miss those shuttles. But I ALWAYS park in the garage if it's open, even the rooftop.

Like I said, I will gladly pay more for the garage if it's price goes up just to make it less full all the time. But ideally another garage will be built that does not require a shuttle.

Too bad the airport didn't do anything creative to the garages at all. They are strikingly ugly, and are an embarrassment when in the context of them being literally the first buildings our visitors see. Besides the concourse and terminal, the parking garages are the first thing a visitor will see.

Here's the parking garage in Portland. A very awesome looking building.

http://www.traneoregon.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/pdx-hqp2.jpg

http://www.pdxrelocate.com/city-images/portland-oregon-airport/l-pdx-4.jpg

Here is Charlotte

http://www.hntb.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/CharlotteGarageDawn%20Exterior%201.jpg

Here's Harrisburg, PA (MDT)

http://www.hntb.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Harrisburg_49.jpg

If we are going to tell people we are a world class city, we should at least pretend to be one first. We aren't world class and we aren't even pretending to be either.

I've been to many, many "world class" cities where you step out to butt ugly parking garage areas. It doesn't define them as a city at all. Spend the money on something worthwhile that truly enhances the travel experience.

I've been to many, many "world class" cities where you step out to butt ugly parking garage areas. It doesn't define them as a city at all. Spend the money on something worthwhile that truly enhances the travel experience.

That's true. But we are building a brand new garage, so might as well make it look attractive. Just like everything else in OKC, if it's better than crappy it makes us happy.

Mediocrity should not be our standard. The city has absolutely no natural beauty, we have to build our city to be beautiful. The city needs to be attractive all over. Not bland concrete boxes. Just because its function is to store cars does not mean it cannot be visually appealing from the outside. We seem to always put function over form, and cheap out on form. You can have a blend of function and form. It can work well AND look good too.

The city has absolutely no natural beauty,

I don't want the thread to go off on a different tangent, but that is just not true for the city as a whole.

I've been to many, many "world class" cities where you step out to butt ugly parking garage areas. It doesn't define them as a city at all. Spend the money on something worthwhile that truly enhances the travel experience.
Yep. When I landed at Laguardia I thought, no way New York is a world class city.

Oh and okc is never going to be "world class" there's very few of those. In America the only world class cities are New York, Miami, LA, SF, and Chicago.
Worldwide there's London, Paris, Rome, Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo. World class cities are culturally significant, historically significant, economically significant, high quality of life, an international destination, and have instantly recongizable landmarks/buildings. It's an insane standard okc shouldn't even strive to attain.

Yep. When I landed at Laguardia I thought, no way New York is a world class city.

Anyone departing the terminals at Heathrow would have exactly the same thought.

I have never even noticed our parking garages.

It's an insane standard okc shouldn't even strive to attain.

You're a real go-getter.

Anyone departing the terminals at Heathrow would have exactly the same thought.

I landed at Heathrow but we took the Tube.

I fly in ond out of OKC several times a year. I have problems only with restaurant and bar choices when i wait. Sure, the parking garage could be jazzed up a bit but otherwise, i find the airport quite attractive.

Yeah id rather they spend money on making things work well than putting some crap on the outside of the garage to make it "pretty". You can do all kinds of things to concrete, look at SEA-TAC. It's interesting and all, but it's still a forest of concrete. There is happens to be nasty because of the amount of moisture.

Okay, I guess the people just want mediocrity.

Why did we even bother renovating the terminal? It's function is to just put people on planes and transfer baggage back to their possession?

It should just be a pre-fab building with walkways out to airplanes? We can have a hot dog concession stand somewhere in the midst of it? We just nedd it to function well and not look good.

Your scenario here is quite the stretch, considering that parking garages hold cars and terminals hold actual people. In a time of constrained resources, I'd much rather spend the money on the thing that holds people.

I can't think of a time where I've been to an airport and gave second though to a parking garage. Denver's airport is absolutely stunning and their garages look no different than OKC's. Don't even get me started on DFW's dark, dingy parking dungeons from 1975.

With all due respect, you are being needlessly dramatic. I realize you don't have the best opinion of Will Rogers but it seems to me like you are reaching for things to try and prove your point on how "mediocre" everything in OKC is.

My point is, we should try to blend function and form. Our terminal building is very attractive, and so should the rest of the airport that our visitors see.

Just because you don't live in your garage, doesn't mean you should let it look like crap while the rest of your house looks wonderful.

I don't care how the garage looks, but it's function is crap. Its extremely too tight making the turns on the east end. It was not designed well at all.

Public buildings should reflect the collective civic pride of the population that they represent. Sadly, WRWA appears to nail it.

Public buildings should reflect the collective civic pride of the population that they represent. Sadly, WRWA appears to nail it.
You are a real "piece" of work.

Public buildings should reflect the collective civic pride of the population that they represent. Sadly, WRWA appears to nail it.

Agreed.