Port of Oakland - Newsroom

Oakland, Calif. (August 26, 2004) - Oakland International Airport (OAK) has secured $13 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for several airfield capital improvement projects, two security-related projects and a sound insulation project.

With assistance of these Federal grants, OAK will repave an end section of the main commercial runway; make airfield pavement improvements at North Field (used mainly by general and corporate aviation); make airfield pavement improvements at South Field (the commercial airfield); and continue soundproofing homes on Bay Farm Island in Alameda.

Additionally, the grant monies will pay for completion of the project to purchase more security cameras, upgrade existing equipment to a color format and convert security recording equipment to a digital format; and will fund 60 percent of the construction costs for a new electrical substation that will power facilities housing state-of-the- art explosive detection equipment.

"Thanks to our joint efforts with U.S. Senator Boxer and U.S. Representatives Lee, Tauscher and Stark to garner AIP funds, Oakland International Airport will continue to improve its existing facilities and infrastructure to meet our safety and security objectives," said Steve Grossman, director of aviation for the Port of Oakland, the owner/operator of Oakland International Airport. "Additionally, the grant monies help the Port achieve its financial objectives by offsetting the capital costs associated with keeping the Bay Area's second largest airport operational, so it can serve 14 million travelers, handle about 700,000 metric tons of air cargo, and support more than a half million aircraft operations annually."

"Oakland International Airport is an economic growth center in the East Bay, as well as a vital transportation link for Bay Area residents. These federal funds will support essential improvements that strengthen security and provide more peace of mind for air travelers. I will continue to work for additional, complementary improvements for planes and other modes of travel," said U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer.

Airports nationwide applied for this funding through the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program. This grant program provides for capital improvements at airports and is funded through taxes from passenger tickets and aviation fuel.

OAK is a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, an independent department of the city of Oakland, and served 13.5 million passengers and handled more than 600,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2003. In April, OAK broke ground on a $500 million Terminal Improvement Program that includes the renovation of and a five-gate addition to Terminal 2, and the construction of a multi-level parking garage. Program completion is expected in 2007.

OAK has over 200 flights a day on 11 domestic and international carriers to 36 nonstop destinations, including Atlanta, Boston, the Hawaiian Islands, New York, Washington, D.C., and Mexico and seasonal service to the Azores (Portugal), Costa Rica and Sun Valley, Idaho.

OAK offers two new parking innovations this summer: a Parking Upgrade Program and the new Park & Call Zone. With OAK's Parking Upgrade Program, departing travelers are always guaranteed a parking space in one of the convenient, on-airport self-park lots. Any time departing travelers find their preferred extended-stay, self-park lot filled, OAK will automatically upgrade them to the next available, closer-in lot, at the lower rate.

OAK's Park & Call Zone allows meeters and greeters who can connect to their passenger by cell phone to wait for FREE up to 30 minutes. Drivers must remain with their vehicles at all times. The 50-space Park & Call Zone is a short walk across the terminal roadway for passengers once they exit the terminals. Motorists should remain in the far left lane as they near Terminal 1 and look for signs directing them to the Park & Call Zone to access this parking area.

OAK consistently has the fewest weather-related flight delays in the Bay Area. All on-airport rental car companies are now located at the interim Rental Car Center at 7600 Earhart Road. A common-use shuttle bus transports rental car customers between this facility and the terminals every 10 minutes. Travelers are reminded that the 98th Avenue corridor is open to both inbound and outbound traffic creating a fast, direct route to and from Interstate 880. A cross-airport roadway providing residents and businesses of Bay Farm Island in the city of Alameda improved access to OAK and Interstate 880 opened in March. Visit the airport's web site at oaklandairport.com for more information.


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