New drop-off, pick-up area inside Purple Ramp should reduce travel times
The new Terminal 2 Express Lane on the second level of the Purple Ramp offers convenient sky-bridge access to the terminal. Courtesy: The Metropolitan Airports Commission
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, Minn.—A free and easy option is now available to improve the pick-up and drop-off experience for Terminal 2 passengers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has opened its new Terminal 2 Express Lane on the second level of the Purple Ramp, the parking garage with convenient sky-bridge access to the terminal.
“We recognize that vehicle congestion at peak travel times can be a challenge for those picking up or dropping off passengers, especially at Terminal 2 where there’s limited curb space,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC, which owns and operates MSP. “We’ve reconfigured the parking facility to offer an additional loading zone with free, easy in-easy out access that should minimize overall congestion and ultimately reduce travel times.”
This airport enhancement comes as MSP is seeing a surge in travel demand. The surge is highlighted by a string of record-setting months at Terminal 2, which currently serves MSP-based Sun Country and six other international and domestic airlines. This past March, Terminal 2 set an all-time record 711,612 passengers.
During peak times, that demand has resulted in terminal vehicle traffic in front of the terminal reaching up to 800 vehicles per hour. The Terminal 2 Express Lane will give motorists an alternative option, with the new loading and unloading zone inside the Purple Ramp, which is able to accommodate approximately 200 vehicles per hour.
The Terminal 2 Express Lane is free and available 24 hours a day. The sky bridge to the terminal is closest to security checkpoint 2, one level above the ticketing lobby. New wayfinding signs mark the express lane entrance and the full route through to the exit from the Purple Ramp. Additional dynamic signs will be installed later this year on the main inbound roadway to alert motorists when there are high levels of vehicle congestion and to encourage use of the Terminal 2 Express Lane option.
Drivers can access the free Terminal 2 Express Lane through the Purple Ramp.
About The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates one of the nation’s largest airport systems, including Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) and six general aviation airports. The MAC’s airports connect the region to the world and showcase Minnesota’s extraordinary culture to millions of passengers from around the globe who arrive or depart through MAC airports each year. Though a public corporation of the state of Minnesota, the organization is not funded by income or property taxes. Instead, the MAC’s operations are funded by rents and fees generated by users of its airports. For more information, visit www.metroairports.org.
