Friday, February 28, 2014

Airport Advisory Board Meeting, 2/25/14~New Air Terminal Proposed

By every measure, style, functionality and size, the Brownsville/South Padre Island "International" Airport needs a new terminal.  As we reported, we were not allowed to snap a picture of architect Calvin Walker's conceptual drawing as he insisted on approval first from Aviation Director Larry Brown, who was in executive session.  The thrust of Walker's design was to merge design elements of Brownsville's historic Pan American Airways terminal with those of the Santa Barbara, CA terminal.
Santa Barbara Airport
Walker and fellow presenter, Jerry Ferrar, emphasized that an historic facade did not preclude a high tech, state-of-the-art interior.  Running the numbers, Brownsville has a 35,000 sq. ft. terminal, but needs 51,000 short term(5 years), but 75,000 long term(20 years).  Three plans were presented, all emphasizing running an airport while adding on and future expansion opportunities.

 Post 9/11 security requirements will mean a longer walk, for passengers, from their cars to the terminal.  Instead of vehicle drive-ups, long covered walkways will front the terminal.  

Aviation Director Larry Brown
The new $20,000,000 terminal will largely depend on FAA funding for very specific terminal elements.  It's all in the numbers, which, as we know is in Larry Brown's wheelhouse.

 $65.000 is being spent to repair the leaking south passenger bridge.  
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7 comments:

  1. Rey Guevara-VasquezMarch 1, 2014 at 7:56 AM

    [Brownsville's historic Pan American Airways terminal the Santa Barbera, CA terminal.]

    Uh, Santa Barbara, maybe?

    Rey

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  2. AnonymousMarch 1, 2014 at 11:02 AM

    Is the architect "Calvin Williams" or the Historic Association's own "Calvin Walker". Don't know Williams, but very familiar with Walker.......

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  3. AnonymousMarch 1, 2014 at 12:23 PM

    mistake after mistake. who will believe you>?

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  4. AnonymousMarch 1, 2014 at 3:37 PM

    Brownsville already lost that war to Harlingen. Brownsville's airport will not grow as the demand for air service is non-existent. Only regional jets will connect to Brownsville. The current airport is more than adequate for this service. Remember Aero Mexico? Well, that is the future.

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  5. AnonymousMarch 1, 2014 at 4:12 PM

    Larry Brown: "I told a fib and was only this big!"

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  6. AnonymousMarch 2, 2014 at 8:48 PM

    Brownsville should focus on Air Cargo as well...Let's remember that Brownsville has a Port (Maritime), has the International bridges, Mexico (Maquilas) as well as Rail....How much money crosses Matamoros and Brownsville on a Daily basis...an estimated $1,000,000 Dollars by TRUCKS ALONE (18 Wheelers)...Let's think about that and DO THE MATH...Just a thought.

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