"D/FW ready to polish its crystal ball"

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

D/FW ready to polish its crystal ball 
Airport is compiling project wish list for new development plan
By SUZANNE MARTA
The Dallas (TX) Morning News 


Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is working on a multibillion-dollar
wish list.

The planning process that helped create the airport's international Terminal
D and the Skylink interterminal airport trail is about to start again.

At an airport board committee meeting on Tuesday, airport officials gave a
sneak preview of the planning process, which is estimated to cost between $9
million and $11 million.

An official proposal to look at the airport's future needs isn't expected
until June. 

Between now and then, airport officials are gathering data and project wish
lists, said Andy Bell, D/FW Airport's vice president of planning. 

"We're getting our ducks in a row," he said. 

The last airport development plan was completed in 1998. 

The plan will take a holistic look at airport assets and operations and
project future needs, including technology and infrastructure, security
regulations and adjustments to the changing needs of airlines.

"Since 9/11, it's ever more important to have financially affordable
projects," Mr. Bell said. 

Airport board members also got a sneak preview of an updated commercial land
use plan for D/FW's 18,000 acres. It is more detailed than the 2001 plan.

This new plan, which requires board approval, includes multi- use
developments, retail centers, entertainment and hospitality complexes,
office parks and industrial space.

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