Richmond Int'l Airport to Review Drop-Offs

Can motorists and commercial vehicles co-exist in front of the new terminal at Richmond International Airport?

That's a question airport officials hope to answer starting Monday with a 30-day traffic test. Spokesman Troy Bell said the second-level roadway to the $46.8 million facility will be opened to previously banned commercial traffic, including parking-lot and hotel shuttles.

The upper-level roadway provides the most direct route for passengers to reach airline ticket counters, which moved into the expanded terminal less than two weeks ago.

The test follows criticism this week from customers and business owners who objected to a policy that allowed only motorists, taxis and limousines to use the elevated roadway.

Courtesy shuttles were restricted to the lower-level entrance road, making it harder for departing passengers laden with luggage to reach the second-floor facility. Two broken elevators made the problem worse.

"We'll evaluate this over the next 30 days and monitor what impact this increased traffic has in terms of congestion on the upper level," Bell said.

The easing of the restriction was hailed by Jack Phillips, general manager of Park 'N Go, the off-site parking service that makes 75 to 100 shuttle stops daily at the terminal.

"I've already had multiple complaints and questions from my customers, who are also the airport's customers," he said.

Phillips said some private limousines park for lengthy periods in front of the terminal in violation of airport rules. "So if a commercial vehicle pulls in and drops passengers off in a timely fashion, I don't anticipate it being a problem."

With the busy Thanksgiving travel season coming up, Bell said, this month should prove a good time to gauge parking and traffic patterns.

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