The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Board Nov. 19 unanimously selected “Alternative 5” as the preferred concept for the Airport Development Plan (ADP), the next master-planning phase for San Diego International Airport.
The ADP considers the future replacement of Terminal 1 and other needed improvements.
Alternative 5 can be built in the shortest period of time because it minimizes and streamlines the work needed to prepare the site for construction. It also provides a unified terminal design, providing seamless connectivity to all terminals, amenities and passenger services. Further, it offers more room for critical infrastructure and parking (if needed). A central federal inspection facility will service growing international traffic.
As part of the vote, the board also approved the start of the environmental review process for the ADP.  That is expected to conclude in summer/fall 2017.
In 2006, a county-wide ballot measure to move the airport was defeated. Therefore, the airport will continue in its current location for the foreseeable future. The ADP is designed to identify improvements that will enable the airport to meet demand through 2035, which is approximately when projected passenger activity levels will reach capacity for the airport’s single runway.
Airport Authority staff, acting under executive and board direction, is leading the ADP process. Four alternatives were originally developed and presented to the board and the public for feedback. Alternative 5, estimated at $2.2 billion, synthesizes that public input – it shortens the timeframe in which Terminal 1 can be replaced, and it results in the lowest construction cost of any alternative considered.
For more information, visit san.org/Airport-Projects/Airport-Development-Plan.