Port Columbus Switching to New Parking Company

Port Columbus is ending its contract with the company that manages parking at the airport, in a move that could put 163 employees out of work.

Central Parking System Inc. is being replaced March 1 by Capital Transportation, which will handle shuttles, and Parking Solutions.

Central Parking workers, who are represented by Transport Workers Union Local 212, will be able to apply for jobs with the new companies.

Officials did not speculate how many of the laid-off workers will be retained. Airport officials expect the new companies to employ about the same number of workers.

Neither of the new companies employs workers represented by a union.

Both of the new contracts are for two years, with options for three one-year extensions.

Airport spokesman David Whitaker said the airport board chose the new structure to ensure continued strong management of its biggest source of revenue. Parking accounted for about $22 million in revenue for Port Columbus last year.

The two new companies in charge of parking are based in Columbus; Central Parking is based in Nashville, Tenn.

The airport raised parking fees slightly this month. The increase is expected to generate an additional $1.3 million a year in revenue.

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