This photo depicts the east end of the new parking structure at Long Beach Airport. Photo by Allison Jean Eaton
UPDATE Monday, July 18, 11:01am | The Long Beach Airport celebrated the early grand opening of the facility’s new 1,989-space parking structure on Thursday with a ribbon cutting ceremony that attracted scores of residents and other stakeholders.
Airport Director Mario Rodriguez said the parking structure is “many years in the making” and the first of a series of projects included in the overall airport modernization project.
“This is marvelous achievement,” he said, explaining that the airport broke ground on the project at the end of 2009 and that the project is four months early and $2 million under budget. “Not a lot of folks could actually achieve that.”
Bob Luskin, who chairs the city’s Airport Advisory Committee, joked about the structure’s early completion and below-budget price tag.
“I don’t know if I should feel safe standing on the fifth floor of a government project that was finished four months early and under budget,” he said with a chuckle.
The five-story parking structure was opened to the public beginning Friday. Parking is $17 per day. That’s cheaper than 24-hour parking at both LAX, which costs $30 per day, and John Wayne Airport, which costs $20, according to those airports’ respective websites.
The structure is expected to generate about $350,000 monthly, said Mayor Bob Foster. It also created 450 construction jobs, which have now ended, and 70 permanent jobs, 49 percent of which are held by Long Beach residents.
“This is the start of something big,” the mayor said.
Rodriguez said that with the modernization project, the airport aims to give customers “an experience uniquely Long Beach … a high-end experience, a boutique experience.”
This is being accomplished, he continued, through a mix of “a little bit of high-tech, a little bit of cutting edge and a little bit of retro.”
He added that Long Beach Airport has the lowest ticketed prices in the state and is among the top five airports in the nation with the lowest ticket prices.
The structure was dedicated in honor of Cal Rogers, who completed the first successful transcontinental flight in 1911, landing in Long Beach. A plaque bearing his likeness was unveiled following the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.
Eight months ago the airport broke ground on the new passenger concourse, which is slated for completion in May 2013.
Thursday, July 14, 11:05am | The Long Beach Airport is celebrating this afternoon the facility’s new 2,000-space parking structure, which a City Hall spokesman said was completed $2 million under budget and four months ahead of its scheduled completion date.
The Thursday afternoon celebration is set for 3 to 5 p.m. today, Thursday, July 14, at the airport, 4100 Donald Douglas Dr. It will be held on the new structure’s rooftop.
The $58 million parking structure was built with the idea of promoting sustainability by consolidating all parking within walking distance of the airport terminal. This eliminates the need for passenger shuttles boosts convenience for airport users.
Those who plan to attend are asked to park on the first floor of the new structure. Parking during the event will be free.
This photo depicts a view of the new parking structure while descending in one of the structure’s elevators. Photo by Allison Jean Eaton.
This photo depicts the far west end of the new parking structure contrasted against the airport’s old parking structure. Photo by Allison Jean Eaton.
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, in whose council district the airport is located, unveiled this plaque dedicating the new parking structure to Cal Rogers, who successfully completed the first transcontinental flight back in 1911 when he landed in Long Beach. Photo by Allison Jean Eaton.