Public meeting at TPA will preview Airport improvements over the next 20 years
The latest Master Plan Update public meeting will introduce proposed improvements to the Ticketing Level, Baggage Claim areas and more as Tampa International Airport prepares to almost double its number of expected annual passengers by 2042.
With plans for designing and constructing the future Airside D (pictured) now underway at America’s Favorite Airport, the public will have an opportunity to see how TPA proposes to accommodate passenger growth to meet the region’s needs for the next 20 years.
A July 25 public meeting at the Airport will showcase the progress and latest findings of the Airport’s 2022 Master Plan Update (MPU), which serves as a roadmap for achieving the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s (HCAA) vision for strategic improvements at TPA.
The Master Plan process is prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to analyze TPA’s overall capacity, operational and customer needs, as well as emerging industry trends.
The public meeting will be at 6 p.m. on the third floor of TPA’s Main Terminal, in the event space between the shuttle stations for Airsides E and F. Parking in the Airport’s Long Term Parking Garage will be free for meeting attendees.
“This public meeting is a chance for everyone in the Tampa Bay region to come out to the Airport and see what we have planned for the next two decades,” said Jeff Siddle, TPA Vice President of Planning and Development. “We’ve been implementing transformative changes at TPA over the last 10 years, and this Master Plan Update will serve as the blueprint for continued progress during our next evolution.”
Participants will see presentations from TPA CEO Joe Lopano and airport consultant Ricondo and Associates, which is leading the MPU process for TPA.
The presentations will outline strategies and future construction that will enable the Airport to serve up to 39 million passengers per year, the number of people TPA projects will use the facility by 2042.
Plans include expanding the Main Terminal’s Baggage Claim areas to serve more passengers; renovating the second-floor Ticketing Level to improve and modernize the customer check-in experience; preparing to accommodate needs for what’s known as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) – incorporating cutting-edge electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, for short passenger flights and package deliveries; and many other improvements and technology upgrades.
TPA’s last full Master Plan launched in 2012, with an addendum completed in 2016. That Master Plan outlined a three-phase, multi-billion-dollar expansion, including the SkyConnect Automated People Mover system, the SkyCenter One office building, the award-winning Blue Express Lanes for faster passenger drop-off and pick-up, a state-of-the-art Rental Car Center, and more.
The most critical project approved as part of the update is the new Airside D, which will help the Airport meet future demand by allowing TPA to serve up to 34 million annual passengers once it’s open. Project completion is planned for late 2027, with the new airside expected to open to travelers in 2028.
The July 25 meeting is the last of three community outreach meetings the Airport is hosting to keep the public informed about the 2022 Master Plan Update process. The first was held on April 25, 2022, at Tampa International Airport, and the second was held in November at the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement in St. Petersburg.
The upcoming July 25 meeting will also be offered virtually on Zoom. For the link to participate and more information about TPA’s 2022 Master Plan Update visit: https://www.tampaairport.com/master-plan/2022-update