ATLANTA
City Council OKs funds for tunnels
A planned $1.1 billion international terminal at Atlanta Hartsfield took a step closer to reality.
The city council last week agreed to spend $110 million to build two tunnels for underground trains that will connect it to the main terminal.
About $45 million will be used to dig the tunnels, and the rest will be for the trains, track and other systems. The airport will fund it through passenger and airline fees and federal grants.
The plans have been around for years as the world's busiest airport continues to see large increases in international passenger traffic.
The airport has already dug out about 1.5 million cubic feet of dirt for the new facility, which will be east of the current terminals. City officials hope to finish the international terminal by 2011.
CHICAGO
Court sides with airport in expansion
The city of Chicago wouldn't infringe on religious liberty by uprooting a church cemetery for a runway that will be a part of the $15 billion O'Hare modernization and expansion project, a federal appeals court ruled recently.
In a 3-1 ruling, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the argument by the cemetery owner and the village of Bensenville, Ill., that relocating the graves violates federal religious protections.
The ruling is a setback for St. John's United Church of Christ of Bensenville, which owns the cemetery, and for other opponents of the airport project.
Many airport neighbors and environmentalists from across the country oppose the project.
The city hopes to buy the 158-year-old St. Johannes Cemetery, which is adjacent to the airport, for $630,000 and move about 1,500 graves.
Joseph Karaganis, a lawyer representing the church, said his client won't sell. The church and Bensenville plan to appeal the religious liberty case. If the church continues to refuse to sell, the city will seek to condemn the property, says Roderick Drew, a spokesman for the project.
The city will handle removing graves with "compassion and dignity," he says.
BALTIMORE
SuperShuttle opens kiosk at BWI
SuperShuttle, which runs shared-ride van services at several airports nationwide, has introduced the company's first kiosk at Baltimore/Washington International.
Its customers can now book, confirm and pay for their reservations at the kiosk, located in the ground transportation area, next to the SuperShuttle service counters. Those who have made a reservation prior to arrival may use the kiosk to check in and pay. SuperShuttle is expected to expand its use of kiosks.
HONOLULU
Parking garage construction starts
Honolulu International broke ground on a parking garage that will add 1,800 spaces, a 40% increase. It's expected to be completed by 2009, and will be located between the overseas and inter-island terminals.
The eight-story structure will connect to the inter-island terminal garage by a two-lane bridge and pedestrian walkways.
It's part of a $2.3 billion modernization project the state announced last year. It will also renovate passenger terminals, ticket counters, baggage screening and runways.
SAN FRANCISCO
Terminal 2 renovation planned
The commissioners who run San Francisco International have voted to seek bids to renovate a long-shuttered Terminal 2. It was SFO's international terminal until 2000, when the airport closed it and opened its replacement.
Plans to renovate it were put on hold due to sluggish economic conditions. But with the airport becoming increasingly crowded, officials are looking for more gates. Terminal 2 can hold up to 14 gates.
Airport officials estimate the project will cost about $250 million and could be completed by 2010. At 610,000 square feet, Terminal 2 is the smallest of SFO's four wings.
SFO is the nation's 14th-busiest airport, based on last year's passenger numbers.
Separately, SFO opened its first registered traveler lanes last week. They will be operated by New York-based Verified Identity Pass.
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