May 23--Construction on a nine-story rental car and public parking structure is underway at O'Hare International Airport after Chicago Department of Aviation officials broke ground on the site Thursday.
The $4.5 million structure aims to significantly improve transit between rental cars, public parking, public roadways, shuttle busses, CTA and Metra, officials said in a news release. The facility is one aspect of a $782 million capital improvement project estimated to create nearly 3,000 construction jobs.
The project also includes the extension of the Airport Transit System by 2,000 feet in order to reduce traffic congestion and increase traveling ease and accessibility, CDA officials said in the release. Officials estimate over 30,000 patrons will use the facility on a daily basis.
Extending the ATS, as well as expanding its 15-vehicle fleet with 36 new rail cars, could reduce vehicle traffic at terminal curbs and eliminate an estimated 1.3 million vehicle trips on terminal roadways each year, officials said.
The facility will be located on the northeast side of O'Hare near the intersection of Mannheim and Zemke Roads, with direct access to the airport terminals through the ATS extension.
The nine-story structure, located on a 33-acre site, will provide a customer lobby on the first floor, more than 4,200 rental car company parking spaces on the next three floors and more than 2,600 public parking spaces on the remaining floors, officials said. Each rental car company will operate in the facility at its own customer service counters and self-service kiosks.
The facility will also include a rental car quick-turnaround building.
The massive capital improvement project is funded in part by a $288 million federal TIFIA loan along with previously issued and authorized general airport bonds, officials said. Officials anticipate the project to be complete by 2018.
