48 PASSENGER TRANSPORT July | August 2026 AirportImprovement.com SRQ configuration required passengers to cross active traffic lanes to reach rideshare vehicles or shuttle services. Reducing pedestrian and vehicle conflict points was one of the biggest safety improvements designers achieved. “[Now,] there’s just one active crossing and that’s to access the county transit loop, which means that 95% of passengers deplaning don’t have to cross any traffic,” explains Mike Coppage, associate vice president at AVCON. Other safety improvements include clearer signage, enhanced lighting and expanded pedestrian infrastructure. “At nighttime, it’s clear where you need to go,” Furr says. “The area has improved sight lines and a lot more loading and unloading zones.” AVCON conducted a full photometric analysis, and lighting throughout the site was designed to exceed regulatory standards and ensure passenger safety—including the under-canopy lighting. The project also modernized outdated infrastructure. “This area hadn’t really been touched in years,” Newhouse relates. “So updating the entire site to be more ADA-compliant was a big part of the project.” Those changes included widening sidewalks to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or other mobility devices, passengers with rolling luggage, families pushing strollers and teams from IMG Academy, a sports-oriented boarding school in nearby Bradenton, FL. Coppage reports that landscaping around the new Ground Transportation Center has helped turn a previously unattractive, institutional space into an area with much more curb appeal. And the improved traffic flow has an environmental benefit: Vehicles spend less time idling, which helps reduce pollution and improve sustainability of landside operations. Dedicated Driver’s Lounge One of the challenges the project solved wasn’t even visible from the roadway. Airport leaders consider limousine and other luxury car service providers a key component of SRQ’s service-oriented operating philosophy because they greet passengers, carry their bags and escort them to waiting vehicles. Before the Ground Transportation Center opened, many commercial drivers gathered inside the terminal near Baggage Claim between assignments and contributed to overcrowding in public areas as passenger traffic increased. “Passenger volumes have continued to increase, so additional facilities for our transportation partners became a priority,” Newhouse notes. Airport leaders recognized that supporting the limo operators would ultimately improve the passenger experience and instructed the project team to design a lounge just for drivers. The 1,800-square-foot facility immediately adjacent to the transportation complex gives drivers a dedicated place to wait instead of gathering in the terminal. The air-conditioned facility includes restrooms, seating areas, vending machines, coffee service and workspace counters. “Being able to pull 20 or 30 [drivers] out of the terminal allows those restrooms and seating to be used just for the passengers,” Newhouse explains. Coordination Was Key One theme that consistently emerged throughout the project was the collaboration required between the primary stakeholders. “A lot of the project’s success came from constant coordination between the airport, contractors, transit agencies and specialty vendors,” Pletzer says. Regular bi-weekly meetings proved essential to unearth potential problems and respond proactively. Like many airport infrastructure projects, the new Ground Transportation Center encountered unexpected field conditions during construction. One of the biggest challenges emerged when a separate project installed a blast fence adjacent to the planned pedestrian route. “The blast fence created a major ADA challenge after construction had already started,” Pletzer explains. “We had to work through some creative grading and accessibility solutions.” That process included redesigning portions of the site with retaining walls, revised handrails and modified grading to maintain compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additional complications emerged underground because portions of the site included infrastructure dating back decades, which required crews to relocate utilities throughout construction. MORE THAN A CONSULTANT A trusted partner, passionate about aviation, dedicated to the industry, and committed to your airport ENGINEERS & PLANNERS 407-599-1122 www.avconinc.com MIKE COPPAGE
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