Our Big Build is Complete

I am pleased to introduce Northern California's new gateway to the world.

This project began with an overarching goal to ultimately build a terminal that would serve the Sacramento region for decades to come. The new Central Terminal B accomplishes this goal and will serve as a foundation for future growth opportunities at lower incremental costs. With our customers in mind, we designed and constructed a terminal with convenient access in an iconic and breathtaking facility. We also upgraded Terminal A, which originally opened in 1998, with new technology ticket and gate counters.

The $1.03 billion Terminal B project, dubbed "The Big Build," was the largest capital improvement program in Sacramento County history. The obsolete Terminal B, which opened in 1967, was designed and constructed in a different era of air travel - long before passenger and baggage screening were required. It was also a time when most travelers arrived for boarding minutes before a flight, minimizing demand for the robust concessions programs passengers have come to expect.

The new Central Terminal B isn't just a replacement for the old Terminal B. Its thoughtful design builds a forwarding-thinking foundation for Sacramento International's future. Through innovative design techniques, we have maximized the ease and convenience passengers appreciate and capitalized on the best elements Sacramento and Northern California have to offer. Not only is the new terminal operationally flexible, it is environmentally sustainable and fiscally responsible as well.

In the following pages, you'll read about various components of the Central Terminal B project: the landside check-in terminal, airside concourse, automated people mover, museum-quality public art and more. These elements combine to create a modern, efficient facility. However, there is one more element in this project that makes me feel particularly proud to be its leader. From start to finish, the Big Build has been a model for collaboration and innovation. Everyone working on this project went above and beyond to complete it early and under budget.

The Sacramento County Airport System used alternative construction and management methods to facilitate rapid and cost-effective construction. Corgan Associates, in association with Fentress Architects, led our design team. Turner Construction Co. served as prime contractor on the airside construction project, and Austin-Walsh Joint Venture served as prime on the landside. Paslay Management Group and AECOM provided program management. Each of these organizations brought a problem-solving attitude and contributed to the remarkable sense of teamwork on the project.

Another important component in the Big Build has been the support of our elected leaders. Members of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors showed tremendous courage when they continued this project during lean economic times. They were steadfast in their commitment to the new terminal and thoughtful in their consideration of its various process steps. This project would not have been possible without their support.

Now that the new Central Terminal B is open, our work is not finished. Sacramento International Airport will continue to evolve to meet the needs of its passengers and the Northern California region. Updated concepts and an overhaul of concession layouts are planned for Terminal A. We also eagerly await completion of the Sacramento Regional Transit Light Rail Green Line that will connect the airport to downtown Sacramento. Plans for an on-airport light rail terminal are already in the works, along with plans for a new on-airport hotel and 6,000-space parking structure.

We encourage our friends and colleagues in the aviation industry to visit. We look forward to welcoming you to the new Central Terminal B in the very near future.