Consolidated Rental Car Facility

[Plutonic Panda]

In the last 10 days, I've been through our airport, DFW and San Juan Puerto Rico each twice. At WRWA, every escalator, elevator and people mover was working that I came accross. Not the same in the other two, DFW or SJU

I had the exact opposite experience.

[ljbab728]

Yes I visit LA quite often. I might even go next week. I've also worked at a hub....

Our airport is aesthetically pleasing (for the most part) but it is still cramped in areas, and from a functional standpoint is still subpar. The airport was poorly designed. It does not function smoothly, especially for operational purposes.

In that case I'm sure you've noticed that LAX (a major airport by any definition) is inferior to OKC in most aspects of aesthetics and functionality for passengers. I remember a couple of years ago when waiting in a security line I got shuffled to about 5 different areas while in that line because of the layout of the terminal. It was a nightmare. A part of your concern seems to be for airport workers and I have no way to judge that and never will.

[MadMonk]

People like you annoy me to no end. To say nobody cares is patently false, and I assure you, I've got plenty of other things that are far more important to complain about. I'm sorry you're oblivious to your surroundings, but I would like projects held to a higher standard than simply being moved from A to B.

Glad to know you at least don't base your entire happiness level on airport design, that would pretty pathetic. But, how happy you must be, knowing that you are among the elite that can truly appreciate the finer things in life like airport tunnels, bathrooms, and signage. Thankfully we have people like you that can find the time in your busy existence to fret and worry about such important details for us lesser beings so that we may urinate between flights in class and style and have our day made extra-super classy while traversing the passages to our awaiting Toyota Camry rental cars. You are the true heroes of our time, bless you.

[catch22]

In that case I'm sure you've noticed that LAX (a major airport by any definition) is inferior to OKC in most aspects of aesthetics and functionality for passengers. I remember a couple of years ago when waiting in a security line I got shuffled to about 5 different areas while in that line because of the layout of the terminal. It was a nightmare. A part of your concern seems to be for airport workers and I have no way to judge that and never will.

I agree about LAX and I do agree our airport is aesthetically pleasing. But if the airport was functional and had proper signage, people wouldn't be asking for directions ALL THE TIME. If it were properly designed, we wouldn't be spending money to fix the mistakes and apply "band aids".

[HangryHippo]

Glad to know you at least don't base your entire happiness level on airport design, that would pretty pathetic. But, how happy you must be, knowing that you are among the elite that can truly appreciate the finer things in life like airport tunnels, bathrooms, and signage. Thankfully we have people like you that can find the time in your busy existence to fret and worry about such important details for us lesser beings so that we may urinate between flights in class and style and have our day made extra-super classy while traversing the passages to our awaiting Toyota Camry rental cars. You are the true heroes of our time, bless you.

Please, continue spewing your melodramatic hyperbole. We know you're fine with a beige hallway from A to B.

[Plutonic Panda]

I know it is just getting from point A to point B for some people. But, I think for most, it really something to see these things like Chicago's new underground tunnel(which is freakin' awesome btw!!!!!!) and other small things that some people might not have an orgasm over, but they think, hmmm wow this is neat. Also, I would rather "go" in a bathroom like this

(This bathroom is also in Chicago)

Than one like this


Anyways, I agree with OnlyOne. I wish they would do more to fix our airport. If we had the money, I would go as far as compleltely rebuilding it and allowing for future expansions. Maybe have a central highway that runs through the middle of the airport similar to DFW. Now, obviously it wouldn't be as big as DFW(ours would probably be like 4 lanes), but have a concept like it and allowing for an easy light-rail connection.

[Dubya61]

You should probably erase those pictures off your phone.
Ms. PluPan: Honey, why do you have pictures of airport bathrooms on you phone?
PluPan: Oh, no reason.

[MadMonk]

Please, continue spewing your melodramatic hyperbole. We know you're fine with a beige hallway from A to B.

LOL, I suppose I should thank you for taking the time to stoop to address a poor tasteless serf like me. I won't keep you from your transportation center aesthetics critiquing.

[Just the facts]

I guess I don't understand why anyone would be happy with just 'okay'. Everything at WRWA was planned, designed, layed out, and constructred by professionals who got paid a lot of money. If it isn't working properly then why defend that. If the customer isn't going to demand better than supplier sure isn't going to do it. I'll admit I haven't flown into WRWA since it was remodeled but I have been to a lot of other airports and you can bet that I sure as heck form an opinion of the people who collectively the airport (just like any other civic structure) represents.

I fly out of JIA a lot and I can tell you I am really proud of how nice it turned out. It could be used in airline commericals it looks so good.

[Plutonic Panda]

You should probably erase those pictures off your phone.
Ms. PluPan: Honey, why do you have pictures of airport bathrooms on you phone?
PluPan: Oh, no reason.

Maybe I'm part of a secret establishment that strides to keep records of every restroom in the world and wants to slowly raise the standards of airport bathrooms across the world... lol... I just google unique public restrooms and then just standard public restrooms. Big difference between American standard restrooms and Mexican standard restrooms lol...

[bluedogok]

• The vertical flow of the building. Arriving passengers are dumped into the departure lobby and mixed with passengers trying to go up to the departure level or using the security area. Also allows people to congregate and crowd the sterile area (areas beyond the checkpoint) exit-ways creating a major conflict point. All airports I have been to, force you to the arrivals level before exiting the sterile area
• Also, escalators are places seemingly randomly throughout the central terminal building. Obviously if you know where to go you can find the right escalator, but assuming you have no idea where you are going and the signs don't offer much help -- you might get confused.
• The concessions areas are crowded and cramped. This is to be even more an issue when they create the central security checkpoint, squeezing the central food court into an even smaller space with less seating, kitchen room, and storage areas.
• Signage is piss-poor at best. Some are located in very illogical areas (for example, on the arrivals level, one is located right in front of the elevator...On one side it is not an issue, but try seeing the sign from the other side, you have to be standing in the 3 foot gap between the elevator and the sign to read it). The signs are way too small and usually out of place. I get asked for directions on simple things everyday. "Are the rental cars downstairs?" "How do I get back to the parking garage?" "Which way is baggage claim?" "Where is the east checkpoint located?" This is the job of signs, and proper placement and simple LARGE font would fix this
• The bagroom areas (where your bags are sorted) are extremely cramped. The layout makes it impossible to tow more than 3 carts without slamming at least one cart into the pylons/curbs/walls while making turns. Also the belts breakdown at least once a day, and during peak times, are often over capacity. Hopefully the redesign of the belt system will fix the reliability issues, but it won't fix the outrageously small footprint of the bagroom. You can still only fit so many carts in that area.
• There are no tunnels from one side of the West Concourse to the other. If you are working a flight out of Gate 10 and need to go to Gate 5, you must walk all of the way around the West Concourse to access that, or go up the stairs, enter the terminal (which we are informed not to use anymore due to the doors constantly breaking/locks malfunctioning), then exit the terminal, walk back down the stairs, etc. Other airports I have worked at all have "tunnels" to allow relatively quick movement between sides of a concourse.
• The tunnel could be a little better with improved signage. People generally know where to go, but people want to be SURE they know where they are going. Getting out of an elevator, looking to your left and seeing a long tunnel, and looking to your right seeing the same. Signs placed every so often repeating the same information assures people they are headed the right direction. Signs posted immediately out of the elevator lobbies with an arrow pointing to DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS, TERMINAL BUILDING, RENTAL CARS need to be placed.
  

Regarding signage, you must assume every traveler or visitor has never stepped foot into an airport before, and you must assume they need directions. Our signage assumes you know where you are going and thats why people are always lost and asking me for directions on my lunch break (not that I mind, I would just rather the signs do their job).

Austin has the secure area exit right next to the security queue line, I can tell you when they only have the main security checkpoint open it is a cross-traffic mess. A year ago Thanksgiving was a complete cluster on Monday morning, I'd imagine it was pretty bad after F1 race weekend, I know how bad it is during SXSW.

As far as back-of-house issues, that is stuff the traveler never sees so it has no impact on the perception of the airport. Yes, it is an operational concern but I also know there have been TSA changes to operations since the redesign which may be some of the reasons why things are the way they are, I really don't know since my involvement was minimal.

I agree the signage is not what it should be, I can't remember who did the signage package but I don't think it was us. I think a signage consultant did those. I have done the signage package for MOT and was overruled on some signage by my bosses.

I know it is just getting from point A to point B for some people. But, I think for most, it really something to see these things like Chicago's new underground tunnel(which is freakin' awesome btw!!!!!!) and other small things that some people might not have an orgasm over, but they think, hmmm wow this is neat. Also, I would rather "go" in a bathroom like this

(This bathroom is also in Chicago)

Than one like this


Anyways, I agree with OnlyOne. I wish they would do more to fix our airport. If we had the money, I would go as far as compleltely rebuilding it and allowing for future expansions. Maybe have a central highway that runs through the middle of the airport similar to DFW. Now, obviously it wouldn't be as big as DFW(ours would probably be like 4 lanes), but have a concept like it and allowing for an easy light-rail connection.

You can't really compare an O'Hare, Hartsfeld, DFW or DIA level airport to an airport at the level of OKC, those big ones generate more revenue in one month than OKC or Austin probably does in 2-3 years. An airport like OKC just can't do everything they want like an O'Hare can do.

[catch22]

Austin has the secure area exit right next to the security queue line, I can tell you when they only have the main security checkpoint open it is a cross-traffic mess. A year ago Thanksgiving was a complete cluster on Monday morning, I'd imagine it was pretty bad after F1 race weekend, I know how bad it is during SXSW.

As far as back-of-house issues, that is stuff the traveler never sees so it has no impact on the perception of the airport. Yes, it is an operational concern but I also know there have been TSA changes to operations since the redesign which may be some of the reasons why things are the way they are, I really don't know since my involvement was minimal.

I agree the signage is not what it should be, I can't remember who did the signage package but I don't think it was us. I think a signage consultant did those. I have done the signage package for MOT and was overruled on some signage by my bosses.


You can't really compare an O'Hare, Hartsfeld, DFW or DIA level airport to an airport at the level of OKC, those big ones generate more revenue in one month than OKC or Austin probably does in 2-3 years. An airport like OKC just can't do everything they want like an O'Hare can do.

The back of house things, without going into detail, have nothing to do with TSA issues. It's purely inefficient for the airlines and the workers, too. I agree it doesn't impact the perception the pax see, but it only goes to show my point that the entire thing was poorly designed. From the public areas to the operational areas. OKC is very inefficient and very poorly designed. For 3.5 million pax, it does an okay job and a lot of issues aren't quite an issue because the facility is rarely stressed to capacity all day long. I hate to see what would happen if we went to 4.5-5 million a year. Which isn't impossible for a city of our size, and if we boom like some economists are predicting it is entirely possible.

[bluedogok]

The back of house things, without going into detail, have nothing to do with TSA issues. It's purely inefficient for the airlines and the workers, too. I agree it doesn't impact the perception the pax see, but it only goes to show my point that the entire thing was poorly designed. From the public areas to the operational areas. OKC is very inefficient and very poorly designed. For 3.5 million pax, it does an okay job and a lot of issues aren't quite an issue because the facility is rarely stressed to capacity all day long. I hate to see what would happen if we went to 4.5-5 million a year. Which isn't impossible for a city of our size, and if we boom like some economists are predicting it is entirely possible.

I do know that working with an existing building like WRWA was and having to remain operational always creates many more issues than a "clean sheet" design like we have had the opportunity to do at MOT. Many compromises have to be made when you are working around that. I saw a little of the back of house stuff at WRWA but that was back in 1981, I don't really remember anything about it. I have seen some areas at DIA (the badge is nice for travel) but that was a clean sheet that was compromised by the automated baggage system going in after construction was well down the road (a friend worked on the access systems at DIA).

[ljbab728]

I agree about LAX and I do agree our airport is aesthetically pleasing. But if the airport was functional and had proper signage, people wouldn't be asking for directions ALL THE TIME. If it were properly designed, we wouldn't be spending money to fix the mistakes and apply "band aids".

And that is different than most airports that aren't built new from scratch in what way?

[catch22]

And that is different than most airports that aren't built new from scratch in what way?

The point is, we spent 110 million for "complete" renovations and the renovations were flawed the day the airport reopened. Would be like paying a contractor to remodel your entire house inside and out, but the architect placed the refrigerator space where the refrigerator door doesn't completely open. Design flaw or just how renovations work??

[HangryHippo]

The point is, we spent 110 million for "complete" renovations and the renovations were flawed the day the airport reopened. Would be like paying a contractor to remodel your entire house inside and out, but the architect placed the refrigerator space where the refrigerator door doesn't completely open. Design flaw or just how renovations work??

Exactly! Thank you.

[ljbab728]

The point is, we spent 110 million for "complete" renovations and the renovations were flawed the day the airport reopened. Would be like paying a contractor to remodel your entire house inside and out, but the architect placed the refrigerator space where the refrigerator door doesn't completely open. Design flaw or just how renovations work??

I'm certainly not claiming that the airport is perfect. You can't ever do a "complete renovation" without tearing down a building and starting over. I don't think that was ever an option and I'm not aware the renovation was ever described that way. I have no doubt that things could have been done differently in hindsight. (It would have been nice to have known about 9-11 in advance) Handwringing about that now won't change what happened. I also have no doubt that everyone at the airport is well aware of whatever flaws exist. Again, OKC is not alone is having these kinds of problems and I'm sure there are many cities that wish they had our airport even with all of those flaws.

[G.Walker]

OKC proposes rental care facility for airport | The Journal Record

[Pete]

Ugh.

Hopefully it takes them years and years to get it done.

[SOONER8693]

Ugh.

Hopefully it takes them years and years to get it done.

Just flew into and out of Cleveland Hopkins airport in the last week. They have a rental car center facility there. It was awesome. Take shuttle to center, get car. In and out in no more than 10 minutes. Returned car to center, in and out in less than 5 minutes and on the shuttle to the airport. Too easy and convenient. If what OKC is proposing for WRWA is like the Cleveland facility, it will be awesome and a great asset to the airport and our city. p.s. I believe the shuttles are operated by the city and run 24 hrs a day.

[UnFrSaKn]

Hey at least I will have a brand new facility. I'll know what it feels like to be a Devon employee.

[Plutonic Panda]

Ugh.

Hopefully it takes them years and years to get it done.

Why??????

[ljbab728]

Why??????

Pete has previously voiced his disdain for this project, plupan.

[Mel]

From an employee point of view, 27 years, moving the rental cars off site would cut down on the urge for male airline employee's to hang out around then rental car personal.

[catch22]

The rental car counters will remain at the airport, I believe.

Here's the project manual to be approved tomorrow morning. Ready for bid after that.

http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/view.as...fileid=1975562