Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Airport Land Use Study

In August 2010, the Airport Authority awarded a $213,000 contract to JDavis Architects of Raleigh for the first phase of a study of potential future uses for Airport Authority-owned land. Only a quarter of the airport's 5,000 acres is developed.

The first phase of the study examined five large tracts of property in an effort to locate a site for a proposed future Consolidated Rental Car Center, or CONRAC. This facility would house all of the rental car operations in a single building with a common transportation system to the terminals.

Locating a site for the facility is one of the first steps in determining if a CONRAC is even feasible for the airport to consider building. Timelines, size or funding have not yet been established for such a facility.

First Phase Results
In April 2011, the Airport Authority board received a report on the findings of the first phase of the study. Of the five tracts of property studied, the one along Pleasant Grove Church Road, roughly bound by I-40, I-540, Aviation Parkway and Airport Boulevard best fit in terms of:

Environmental conditions
Roadway connections
Utility services
Stormwater management
Connections to regional transit systems

If the Airport Authority were to move forward with a CONRAC in this location, portions of Pleasant Grove Church Road would need to be realigned and an interchange would need to be built on Aviation Parkway at Globe Road. Passengers would travel between the CONRAC and terminals by a bus system.

Next Steps
JDavis Architects is now proceeding with the second phase of the study. That portion includes the examination of options for land use among the other four land parcels. Usage options could range from commercial development to leaving parcels as undeveloped natural areas.