$1.3 billion Dulles renovation advances

Washington Dulles last week revealed more details of its $1.3 billion construction project that aims to improve transportation between concourses and ease crowds at the main ticketing area.

The plan calls for enlarging its current two-level terminal — designed by the noted architect Eero Saarinen — with two more levels below ground.

The top level — which now has airline ticketing counters, self-service kiosks and security checkpoints — will be used only for food and retail shops and by airlines to check in passengers. The ground level will continue to house baggage-claim carousels, ground-transportation counters and more self-service kiosks.

Passengers who checked in at home or via kiosks will be able to go directly to an escalator on the ground level that will take them down to a new 121,700 square-foot mezzanine for a consolidated security checkpoint. Once passengers clear security, they will descend one more level to the main station to board the 4-mile people-mover system — called Aero Train — that will shuttle passengers to and from concourses.

The airport says the new facilities and the Aero Train will begin operating at the end of 2009.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2007-10-14-airport-checkin_N.htm

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