Sonoma County Airport Expansion: Board Of Supervisors Gets Update

SANTA ROSA, CA — The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday received an update on the expansion of the county airport's terminal and a proposed consolidated car rental center.
Jon Stout, manager of the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport north of Santa Rosa, said airport officials hope to know in June if the Federal Aviation Administration approves a $20-million grant for the $25-million, 30,000-square-foot terminal expansion.

If the full $20 million is approved, construction could start in early 2020 and be completed at the end of 2022. Sonoma County would have to match 10 percent of the grant funding, Stout said.

The proposed improvements in the gate area of the terminal include two-lane passenger screening, seating for 350, new restrooms, concessions and outside seating. Baggage claim improvements will include an enhanced luggage carousel, in-terminal rental car counters and a larger greeting area.

In the ticketing area, customers will find airline counters with offices, security offices, new bag screening facilities and a new kiosk area in the future.

Current projects include adding 5,000 square feet in the Gate 2 tent area, additional lanes for security screening, permanent bathrooms, and electrical upgrades. Those projects cost $2.5 million, Stout said.

The airport recently completed the construction of a 450-space long-term parking lot, 15 vehicle charging ports, a new parking lot, gates and equipment and new sidewalks to the terminal.

In-terminal rental car operators have requested additional facilities, and future plans include a $10.6 million consolidated car rental center with 572 car spaces and a larger area for return, servicing, fueling and storing rental car fleets. There are 160 spaces for rental car parking and storage at the airport now.

Airport officials are recommending a $10 Customer Facility Charge to finance a major portion of the rental center. Off-terminal rental car operators would not be subject to the fee and they will not be able to use the facility. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a hearing on the fee in May.

The county's airport is growing in infrastructure, airlines, destinations and popularity. It is the sixth-fastest growing U.S. airport with 210,341 passengers in 2018, Stout said.

"We expect a peak of 17 flights per day this summer," Stout said.

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines provide service to Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Denver.

— Bay City News Service