708 replies to this topic

[DwnTwnRaleighGuy]

pack-man, on Mar 6 2006, 04:50 PM, said:

To answer the mystery to why there is a Terminal C and Terminal A.  When the airport was designed there were plans to have 3 terminals.  Terminal A and C on opposite sides(the current configuration) and terminal B would be where the current control tower sits.  Its runways would've overlapped perpendicularly to the current runways or just merge with the other two.  This was scratched from the original plans and was to be used for future development.  

It would be something for the airport to eventually need a 3rd terminal, but I don't think it would ever happen.

Don't say never, remember when RDU talked about building a 3rd runway. It still may happen!

[PAVANC]

The tunnel in question is for emergency and maintenance vehicles.  It was constructed when Taxiway "E" was constructed and has never been used.  The airport is currently constructing services road on either side of the tunnel to connect the terminal area with the maintenanace facility.

Edited by PAVANC, 06 March 2006 - 04:02 PM.

[Eastwestrob]

PAVANC, on Mar 6 2006, 05:00 PM, said:

The tunnel in question is for emergency and maintenance vehicles.  It was constructed when Taxiway "E" was constructed and has never been used.  The airport is currently constructing services road on either side of the tunnel to connect the terminal area with the maintenanace facility.

That meens that jlblaes and I both recieve a gold star for the day

[Raleighmark]

pack-man, on Mar 6 2006, 04:50 PM, said:

To answer the mystery to why there is a Terminal C and Terminal A.  When the airport was designed there were plans to have 3 terminals.  Terminal A and C on opposite sides(the current configuration) and terminal B would be where the current control tower sits.  Its runways would've overlapped perpendicularly to the current runways or just merge with the other two.  This was scratched from the original plans and was to be used for future development.  

It would be something for the airport to eventually need a 3rd terminal, but I don't think it would ever happen.

I don’t think that is correct. In fact there was a terminal B. It was the original terminal that was built...well I’m not sure when it was built, but it has been there since at least the late ‘60s. It has since been combined with terminal A to make one long terminal A. Originally terminal A was only supposed to temporary and was built when they were grading for the second runway. I think the plan was to build a permanent terminal where C is now, but American Airlines came along and decided to put in a hub, and the current terminal C was built for their operations, so all of the sudden terminal A was needed long term and eventually combined with B. I think the plan is to replace terminal A sometime, just not any time soon. Same with a third runway, I think they still have plans for one. I don’t recall a passenger terminal ever being planed for where the control tower is now, although I could be wrong.
Until the early ‘80s RDU was still accessed by a wimpy little two lane state road (1002 I think). It really has come a long way.

[citiboi27610]

it would be interesting to see an aerial of how it looked, i'm too young to remember the configuration without the interchange all the lanes

[Transplant]

I think that the Terminal A North is far enough from the rest of terminal A to call it Terminal B. I think it could avoid any confusion when people are trying to get picked up, only to be waiting at the wrong end.

[pack-man]

Raleighmark, on Mar 6 2006, 05:38 PM, said:

I don’t think that is correct. In fact there was a terminal B. It was the original terminal that was built...well I’m not sure when it was built, but it has been there since at least the late ‘60s. It has since been combined with terminal A to make one long terminal A. Originally terminal A was only supposed to temporary and was built when they were grading for the second runway. I think the plan was to build a permanent terminal where C is now, but American Airlines came along and decided to put in a hub, and the current terminal C was built for their operations, so all of the sudden terminal A was needed long term and eventually combined with B. I think the plan is to replace terminal A sometime, just not any time soon. Same with a third runway, I think they still have plans for one. I don’t recall a passenger terminal ever being planed for where the control tower is now, although I could be wrong.
Until the early ‘80s RDU was still accessed by a wimpy little two lane state road (1002 I think). It really has come a long way.

That is what I meant, Terminal B is in the north section and was to wrap around to the west where the control tower is.  It never materialized and Terminal A eventually engulfed B.  B was never built onto.

[Subway Scoundrel]

pack-man, on Mar 7 2006, 10:38 AM, said:

That is what I meant, Terminal B is in the north section and was to wrap around to the west where the control tower is.  It never materialized and Terminal A eventually engulfed B.  B was never built onto.

I am a little older and have lived here for 35 years but I remember the old Terminal B and also remember the motel that sat right in front of Terminal A.  There was a ground parking lot right in front and a older motel.

[DwnTwnRaleighGuy]

Subway Scoundrel, on Mar 7 2006, 01:17 PM, said:

I am a little older and have lived here for 35 years but I remember the old Terminal B and also remember the motel that sat right in front of Terminal A.  There was a ground parking lot right in front and a older motel.

I remember that hotel as well. God do I feel old!

[Justin6882]

They broke ground on the actual construction of the new Terminal C today, the 20 year anniversary of the opening of the 10,000 ft. runway on the west side of the airport.

Terminal C Breaks Ground

Quote

Part of the new terminal is expected to open for business in 2008, with all 35 gates available by 2010. Air Canada, American, American Eagle and United airlines will remain in Terminal C, while Delta, Continental, Northwest, US Airways, America West are scheduled to move to C from Terminal A.

[avery]

Glad to hear that they are breaking ground.  I can't wiat to see the new terminal when complete.  RDU really needs this.

[pack-man]

This will really help RDU compete with Charlotte-Douglas.  RDU has a real shot of becoming NC's main airport due to its proximity.  I heard a lot of people from VA come to RDU as well.

[dmccall]

The whole thing is weirder than than the Soleil Center, if you ask me. Put someone out there and say,"OK - what needs to be demolished and replaced?" They wouldn't say Term C, they'd say A&B, that leftover mess. I honestly cannot see why Terminal C is an improvement other than it's more open and swoopier. If you look at the walkthrough movie, passengers will have to leave the concourse be riding up and short escalator. Then they will go down another escalator to get to baggage claim. It will have one of those stick-on glass elevators in the lobby, which may be more of a security feature than anything.

However we go over to the sprawling Terminal A and see the blue, brown, pink, yellow, silver, and beige color scheme in a poorly lit building originally intended to be a hangar. The Triangle's aviation gateway is perhaps its most embarrassing building. Ugh.

[DanRNC]

It was my impression that Terminal A will also be demolished once "C" is completed.

[Justin6882]

I don't think its going to be demolished, but rather extensively renovated?

[Tayfromcarolina]

Terminal A will also be demolished and built to complement C.

[Justin6882]

According to this story, its just being renovated to upgrade to Terminal C level technology.

[Tayfromcarolina]

True, True. I can't wait to see the finished Facilities.

[Subway Scoundrel]

This is just my opinion but I think the new terminal will flow better and improve RDU image, especially as the business airlines move there   (American, Delta, United, US Air, etc) providing an easier entrance/exit and better image of the area.   This will help improve the image of the triangle as the first view a business traveler sees is the airport and this makes a lasting impression, especially for a high tech area.  Fly into other cities like Wichita, Old Tucson, very old part of San Jose, etc and see the old airport that screams "backwards, slower" even though they have some industry leading technology companies there.  

Much of the up and down is the layout of modern airports.  I keep mentioning the Denver airport and there is some up and down, but it flows pretty well, although some better signage for first time travelers could improve.  Of course, it could have been me.

With terminal A, it is all about costs.    I am sure Southwest would like to any upgrades as long as it does not raise their gate costs.    That "blue, brown, pink, yellow, silver, and beige color scheme " (so so true) fits well with Southwest  cost structure (as the Wall-Mart of the airline industry) but not sit well with business travelers, especially if it is high tech like software, hardware and Bio/Pharma.  

Think of the business person flying in from a larger city and wants to purchase or award business to a triangle company and the first thing they see if posters from 1988 (Terminal A) or the original brick and old linoleum floors in Terminal A (TerB section for USAir/Southwest) I am sure Southwest will welcome the change (at least down to 3 colors) but not if it raises it costs.

[avery]

This terminal is slated for completion in 2010.  It would be really nice if it could be completed by 2008 to coincide with the opening of the convention center.  Talk about making a statement to out of towners coming into RDU for a convention.