July 18, 2016
Nation’s First Privately Developed, On-Airport Quick Turn-Around Facility Opens at Bismarck Airport
BISMARCK, N.D. – Following its busiest year yet, with 259,734 passengers in 2015, the Bismarck Airport continues to improve customer service for travelers by adding a Quick Turn-Around facility, or QTA, to consolidate all Airport rental car operations. The project opened June 1, 2016 and is the first privately developed, on-airport QTA in the country. The design, build, finance, operate and maintain project was led by Conrac Solutions Project Delivery, the same team who successfully developed consolidated rent-a-car facilities, also known as CONRACs, in Anchorage, Alaska and Austin, Texas. The project was financed by Chugach Alaska Corporation, Conrac Solutions Project Delivery and Wells Fargo Bank, NA.
“This project has been discussed for years,” said Dan Haus, owner of Avis rental car in Bismarck. “It’s always been a priority of the car rental industry and airport to meet the needs of our customers and by utilizing private delivery to complete the QTA, we were able to achieve a solution that works for everyone.” Conrac Solutions Project Delivery privately developed the facility by ground-leasing the site from the Airport, then managing the design, build, finance, day-to-day operations and long-term maintenance of the facility, thereby isolating the Airport from project risk. Beyond risk mitigation, privatization allows airports to use other airport funds for core projects, such as a runway expansion, as was the case of the Bismarck Airport. A Customer Facility Charge, paid by rental car customers over the lease term provides debt repayment.
By consolidating car wash facilities, vacuum systems, fueling and service bays to a single site, airports are able to maximize use of land resources. In addition to creating operational efficiencies, the new QTA eases traffic and reduces carbon emissions. Prior to consolidated QTA operation, the car rental companies Avis, Enterprise and Hertz each cleaned and maintained cars at separate service centers located a few miles away. Eliminating the need to drive between the service centers and airport significantly decreases vehicle exhaust, traffic and wear on roadways.
To deliver the QTA, Conrac Solutions Project Delivery hired architecture firm, PGAL, and local general contractor, Greystone Construction, to provide design and construction at a design-build cost of $4.5 million. The project incorporated the QTA building, fueling facility, new stacking areas, new lighting and related infrastructure. Construction began in October 2015 with completion in only eight months. In order to incorporate efficiencies and the latest operational rental car industry trends, the Conrac Solutions family of companies relied on best practices and in-house knowledge from their facility operations at airports in Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Anchorage, Seattle and Austin. This expertise will continue to serve the project as strategic partner, Conrac Solutions, takes on the role of asset manager and works with local property management firm, The Aspen Group, to maintain the facility.
“Through our partnership with Aspen, we are able to unite Conrac Solutions’ experience in consolidated rental car sites with a labor and vendor pool local to Bismarck,” said Matthew Fairbanks, president of Conrac Solutions. “Aspen’s regional and local expertise and relationships, backed by Conrac Solutions methodology and innovation, provides the rental car industry with the best value and most cost-effective services.” From life-cycling costing to ensuring the right facility and fueling manager are in place, Conrac Solutions’ hands-on understanding provides the ability to make sure that the lifespan of the building is preserved or improved.
The new Bismarck QTA serves the three rental car brands with two fuel positions, one automatic car wash tunnel, three quick-prep and manual wash bays and storage for 430 vehicles. Tailored for the northern climate, the 6,415 square foot building includes insulated walls, overhead doors and heated slabs to encompass the service area used to prepare and fuel cars. Fueling is completed from an above-ground tank and includes a usage tracking system dispenser. Additional benefits to the traveling public include increased lighting from the airport to the rental car storage “ready/return” parking lot.
“It was terrific to work with the Bismarck Airport to deliver this first-of-its-kind facility,” said Mark Pfeffer, president and CEO of Conrac Solutions Project Delivery. “We saw what was important to the Airport and worked hard to deliver so they could focus on other priorities. In the end, we achieved what we proposed: design, build, finance, operate and maintain an asset the City of Bismarck and rental car companies can be proud of – on schedule and within budget.”
Greg Haug, Bismarck Airport Director, added “The Airport and City of Bismarck are pleased to see the completion of the Car Rental Quick Turn Around facility. The building looks great and fits in well with the terminal and its surroundings. We’d like to thank everyone who helped make this facility a reality and look forward to the increased customer service this facility will provide for the traveling public.”
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