Courtesy Albany Airport
New York state has awarded $22.1 million in funding to Albany International Airport as part of a $42.1 million project to modernize the facility.
The grant funding is part of the $200 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition passed in the 2017 state budget.
To complement the state’s investment in Albany airport, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a $50 million project to construct a new highway connector between the airport and the Northway in the town of Colonie, to ease traffic congestion and provide a more direct route to the airport.
The airport connector project is funded by the state’s $100 billion Infrastructure Renewal Plan.
“Albany International Airport is a gateway to the Capital Region, and this modernization project will help maximize economic development and tourism opportunities for generations to come,” Cuomo said. “Airports are the front doors to our communities, and these investments in the future of upstate airports are providing new jobs and helping attract new residents, businesses and visitors in every region of the state.”
“Airports across the state are being transformed with investments to support needed improvements and expansion of transportation services,” said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. “This announcement of significant funding for Albany Airport will make travel to and from the airport easier and quicker, and provide resources to help modernize the airport with new parking and terminal enhancements. This announcement builds off our commitment to upgrade infrastructure in communities and create economic development and tourism opportunities with better and safer transportation options for New Yorkers and people worldwide.”
Albany International Airport’s main terminal was built in 1962 and underwent its last significant renovation in 1998. About 1.4 million people a year board planes at the airport, which has an outdated appearance and limited parking. The airport redesign includes:
• A new parking garage. The project will construct a 1,000-unit, multi-level parking garage, expanding airport parking capacity by 20 percent. The pre-cast concrete garage will provide a heated pedestrian walkway to the airport terminal. Energy-efficient LED lights will illuminate that bridge, enhancing visibility as well as vehicular and pedestrian safety.
• Parking access improvements. The project will install new LED electronic signs, car counting devices, and interactive access control devices that utilize advanced GPS technology to locate available parking spaces and provide wayfinding messages that direct motorists to them. The existing parking system is nearly 20 years old and its electronic controls are in disrepair.
• Terminal rehabilitation and passenger amenities. The project will rehabilitate the terminal, including escalators, restrooms, waiting rooms and the food court. Improvements will include new carpets, wall finishes, tile floors, energy-efficient lighting fixtures and better Internet connectivity.
The state is awarding the airport $22.1 million for the plan. Albany International Airport has secured all additional funding for a total project cost of $42.1 million.
The Albany Airport connector at Exit 4 will provide direct access to Albany International Airport from the Northway. The state Department of Transportation is accelerating the project, initially scheduled to start next spring, and advertised for construction bids in August. The project is expected to get underway this fall. It is scheduled to be completed by late 2020.
The project will reconfigure the Exit 4 interchange by creating a flyover for northbound Northway traffic. The new ramp will travel over the Northway, loop behind and to the west of the Desmond Hotel and come to a new T-intersection with Albany-Shaker Road, close to the airport. For southbound traffic on the Northway, a new off-ramp will be built to travel behind the Desmond Hotel and connect to a flyover ramp that will lead to the new intersection.
Project plans also call for a new, direct on-ramp from Route 155 (Watervliet-Shaker Road) at Exit 5 to the southbound Northway, eliminating the need for the existing frontage ramp off the southbound side of the highway.
On the northbound side, the on-ramp adjacent to the Times Union building will be extended all the way to Exit 5 for Route 155, creating a longer auxiliary lane that will make it easier for drivers to merge onto the northbound Northway and to depart the highway at Exit 5.
A noise wall is planned to be built on the northbound side between Exits 4 and 5. The project will also convert the existing northbound Exit 4 off-ramp to allow for right-turn only maneuvers onto Wolf Road.
For travelers heading to the airport from the northbound Northway, the project will eliminate the need to travel through two additional traffic lights. For southbound Northway travelers, the project will eliminate the need to travel through one additional traffic light. Crash rates and travel times are expected to decrease as a result.
Officials said the project will also enhance connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists by providing sidewalks on the south side of Albany Shaker Road between the connector road and Wolf Road as well as a shared use path between the Albany International Airport and the connector road.
Construction of the airport connector road also will free up large tracts of commercially zoned parcels for commercial redevelopment and improvement by the private sector, officials said.
An estimated 40,000 motor vehicles per day use Exit 4 at the Northway and an estimated 102,000 motor vehicles travel over Albany-Shaker Road at that location daily.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “Accessible, modern airports can help spur regional economic development and growth, and these investments in Albany International Airport will pay dividends for decades to come.”
U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko said the airport “is a feather in the cap of our region. Getting to and from the airport should be easy, safe and efficient. Unfortunately, the current design is less than ideal. I applaud the governor’s announcement to make it easier to get to the airport while reducing congestion. This project is yet another example of the importance of securing federal resources in Washington to enable smart growth in our local communities. I excitedly anticipate the airport’s continued growth and service to our region’s families, businesses and visitors.”