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PASSENGER TRANSPORT    
September 2026      AirportImprovement.com
GRR
The ELEVATE program is being funded by state and federal 
grants, municipal bonds issued by the county and airport user fees. 
Ready for More
Last year, GRR served 4.3 million travelers, breaking its previous 
record for passenger volume; and projections indicated more 
growth in traffic lies ahead. 
The CONRAC was designed and built to support the increased 
volume of car rentals that likely comes with more passengers. 
“It’s built to handle forecasted operations through 2040,” 
says Ries. 
The new rental car center is also ready to handle a predicted 
increase in electric vehicles, both in terms of its electrical 
capability and the structural strength required to handle the much 
heavier vehicles. 
“The facility reflects the continued economic growth in our 
region,” Ries remarks. “When I started working here in 2014, the 
airport was generating less than $3.2 billion a year in economic 
development in Western Michigan. Now it’s $7.7 billion.
“The CONRAC is one element that supports that growth,” 
he continues. “Our focus is on infrastructure—we need to keep 
pace with community demand.”
Dan Koorndyk, the chairman of the Airport Authority’s board 
of directors, agrees with that strategy. “As West Michigan grows, 
having the right infrastructure in place is critical,” he said in a 
news release. “This facility represents a significant step forward 
in our mission to build new spaces that are efficient, long-lasting 
and environmentally responsible.”
AIRPORTS 
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The quick-turnaround facility includes a reclamation system 
that recycles 90% of the water used to wash vehicles. 

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