b'24 CAEBAGGAGEPHOTO: WWW.FLYCAE.COM/ FORREST CLONTS PHOTOGRAPHYColumbia Metropolitan Upgrades BaggageSystem and Ticketing Lobby BY KRISTEN RINDFLEISCHColumbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) in West Columbia, SC,In 2017, the airport team began planning needed improvements recently completed a major overhaul of its baggage systemand received an Other Transaction Agreement from TSA to and associated infrastructure. The project includes a newexpedite the design and development process. Funding became conveyor system, inline screening and renovations to the checkedavailable in 2018not a moment too soon. By 2019, CAE was baggage reconciliation area, as well as updates to the ticketingrunning out of queueing space because passenger traffic was lobby, airline offices and curbside areas. Travelers can now use newexceeding the capacity of its ticketing area. check-in kiosks, drop their checked bags at the ticketing counter andPreviously, all airlines at CAE had their own proprietary baggage quickly head to the gate area.systems, ticketing locations and gates, which didnt allow for The project added more space for queueing,flexibility when flight volume varied throughout the day. With the new replaced the previous aging handling systemupdates, the airport incorporated common-use and increased capacity for both baggagegates, baggage systems and ticket counters, screening and passenger processing. Its aand also added 14 self-serve check-in kiosks in much more efficient operation and allows forthe lobby across from the ticket counters. This faster throughput for the bagsa major upgradeis critical for improving the airports capacity to for us, says CAE Executive Director Mike Gula.MIKE GULA process passengers by allowing airlines to flex The $21 million project was funded with a combination of Airportspace as needed based on demand, explains Improvement Program grants, passenger facility charges, customerDave Carpenter, project manager at FothDAVE CARPENTERfacility charges, TSA grants and local funds. Infrastructure & Environment LLC. The previous baggage system at CAE was from the mid 90sFoth provided civil engineering for the project and was and required travelers to transport their bags from the ticketingresponsible for developing the design team, coordinating with counters back across the lobby so TSA agents could screen themstakeholders, working with TSA and FAA, and delivering final bid in one of three standalone explosives detection system scanners.documents. The company also provided The system was originally added as a stopgapconstruction administration and observation measure to meet requirements set in place 20services, and coordinated with airport tenants. years ago, and it severely hindered circulationBoyer Commercial Construction acted as in the ticketing lobby. It had been a prettygeneral contractor. We feel very fortunate to cumbersome, manual process that we reallybe part of such an impactful project here in our wanted to streamline, remarks CAE Directorstate, says Brian Boyer, president of Boyer of Facilities and Planning Frank Murray. It justCommercial Construction. BRIAN M. BOYERtook us a while to get there.FRANK MURRAY Both Boyer and Foth had worked on previous projects for CAE. July | August 2023AirportImprovement.com'