With an initial phase of work recently completed at Spokane International Airport, a second phase of improvements to the transportation center currently is being designed.

The second phase will include improvements to the ground transportation center and the rental car return area, located to the north of the airport’s terminal.

Todd Woodard, director of marketing and public affairs for the airport, says the second phase will go out to bid early next year. The project is expected to be completed in fall of 2021, he says.

“Work consists of pavement and drainage improvements, canopy maintenance, replacing overhead lighting and signage, landscaping, ground transportation center entrance improvements, and other associated work,” Woodard says.

The construction value of the second phase is estimated at between $5 million and $6 million. 

The Spokane office of DCI Engineers is the new project’s designer. It also handled the first-phase design, he says.

The rental car facility is divided into three areas. The quick-turn area is designated for light maintenance work on rental cars and has a car wash. The ground transportation center includes rental car ticket counters and office space, and the ready-return area is where rental cars are picked up and dropped off. 

The first phase of improvements to the rental car facility centered on the quick-turn area, where all maintenance is performed on rental cars by the respective rental agencies.

That work consisted of replacing overhead doors to the car wash bays, lighting, security cameras, and adding heated concrete pads, Woodard says.

Leone & Keeble Inc., of Spokane, was the contractor on the $1.2-million first phase, he says.

Improvements to the rental car facility are funded through what is called the customer facility charge, a user fee paid by rental car customers, which can only be applied to projects directly related to rental car facilities.

“Funding for both phases one and two have already been collected,” he says.