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.