JIA Terminal Project Starting

[tufsu1]

http://www.examiner.com/x-10977-Jacksonville-Transportation-Examiner~y2010m2d1-JAX-terminal-construction-begins-today

[Duke]

Interesting... I didn't even know this was in the works. 

[reednavy]

Looks good, but aren't they supposed to build a new Terminal B in the future?

[stjr]

As I recall, this is that section between the entry point from ticketing and the main lobby (or, in reverse, the exit point from the main lobby to the escalators down to baggage claim) where you have a rise/fall in the floor plates of the ticketing  floor and the main lobby floor.

Not sure this was a major "need" at the Airport to blow hundreds of thousands (millions?) of dollars on.  If JAA has that kind of cash burning a hole in their pocket, they should "donate" it to the City's general fund for better uses serving the public good.

P.S. Looks pretty blah as well.

[Charles Hunter]

It's been awhile since I've been to JIA, but I thought "Ticketing and Baggage Claim" were "down" - and this picture shows it "up"??  Has it been too long since I've been out there?

[Duke]

It's been awhile since I've been to JIA, but I thought "Ticketing and Baggage Claim" were "down" - and this picture shows it "up"??  Has it been too long since I've been out there?

No, you're right.  If I'm understanding this illustration correctly, on the other side of this set of stairs and escalators is another set of stairs and escalators which will lead you downstairs to the baggage claim area. 

In a way, I guess its good they're doing this renovation.  That corridor was a relatively "dark" area between the two buildings.

[tufsu1]

This is a view coming from the airside to the landside...today you walk up a long ramp that is apparently too steep for ADA standards.

The project is funded by passenger fees (you know the $3 you pay for each departure)...as just about all airport projects around the country are...and, no STJR, Federal regulations wouldn't allow them to donate those funds to the City.

[stjr]

This is a view coming from the airside to the landside...today you walk up a long ramp that is apparently too steep for ADA standards.

Tufsu, maybe, but I have not seen JAA public cite this as the reason.  Also, the ramp in the rendering doesn't appear to be any less inclined than the existing one.  And, there are elevators at this ramp already that may meet ADA.  As such, I am still assuming this is mainly a cosmetic, first, project.

As to excess dollars, I don't know why the City can't charge JAA for some class of City services to get their hands on the money.  If nothing else, just charge them more through JEA and then take the money out of JEA.  Now, that would be creative money laundering. 

[spuwho]

I know why they had to do it, but the constant "up/down" at JIA, IMHO is a poor design attribute.

Ticketing, lobby, food court, retail and gates should all be on the same level. No steps, stairs, escalators or elevators in between.

Hopefully the new Concourse B will eliminate it's mid-deck mogul when completed.

Does this means the "countdown" clock to the next whatever is coming down too?

If transit ever came to JIA, where would it go? Luggage level concourse? or are they going to make everyone take their luggage back upstairs to some future elevated?

[Captain Zissou]

If this allows the space in or along the sides of "the ramp" to be better utilized, I'm for it.  Otherwise, do people really need 4 options for how to go up in 7 feet of elevation??

[tufsu1]

And, there are elevators at this ramp already that may meet ADA.  

really...where?

btw...here's the story on this project from a few months ago

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-07/story/jias_central_corridor_getting_9_million_makeover

[whitey]

Is this section currently inside the blue double wide trailer looking portion of the airport?  I think Terminal B would be the only other remaining double wide in the sky portion left, right?

[tufsu1]

If I understand your question correctly, yes

As for Terminal B, it was demlosihed a few months ago.

[stjr]

From the T-U article:

Jones said an escalator, stairs and wheelchair ramp will address the six-foot height difference. The hallway’s roof also will be made higher to be similar in design to the airport’s newly-built concourses.

She said the work is possible because the airport’s bond-funded concourse work came in significantly under budget, with about $9 million left over.

$9 million for this??!!!  For a 6 foot rise over what may be a hundred feet or so?  Nothing about it being necessary over what is currently there to meet unmet handicapped requirements.  They simply had money left over burning a hole in their pocket and decided to blow it on this questionable "improvement".  As I suspected.

There is an elevator and, as I recall, it is close to, if not a part of, this connector between the lobby atrium and the ticketing/baggage claim structure.  To be clear, this elevator is between the connector level and the baggage claim level, not for the 6 foot rise in the connector floor, if that is what you are looking for.  The elevator is off to the side if I remember correctly.  Perhaps one of our readers passing through the airport this week could confirm its location.  Regardless, there is definitely an elevator because I have taken passengers in wheelchair and crutches down it.

[tufsu1]

I believe they are redoing the entire building area to bring it up to the standards of the other parts...but yes, this is being done with extra money.

As for the elevator, take a look at the terminal maps...you are correct that there is one going to/from baggage claim...but it doesn't allow one to avoid the ramp.

http://www.jia.aero/Ai_Terminal_Map.aspx