BY GREGORY A. HALL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HEBRON -- An airport board member has balked at spending more than $300,000 for new escalators at an airport parking garage.
Kenton County Airport Board member Ralph Drees questioned a recommendation during Monday's executive committee meeting for $339,000 to be spent for two new escalators at the Terminal One garage.
The board, which oversees the Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky International Airport, will vote on the recommendation next week. Mr. Drees asked for an estimate to replace the 20-year-old escalators with stairs instead.
The 726-car garage is used by airport employees and customers of airlines in Terminal One.
Mr. Drees complained the garage is rarely full. And if it's not full, he said, why put in escalators?
Airport Director of Aviation Bob Holscher said the improvement is needed -- especially if a low-cost airline decides to start service at the airport. The improvement also has been recommended by airlines.
"If we get a carrier that utilizes this (terminal) building, we're going to need that parking yesterday," Mr. Holscher said. Leigh Fisher Associates of San Francisco is studying parking needs at the airport and possible solutions. The study is expected to be finished in February.
In another matter, the airport staff also is asking DHL Airways, which is expanding its hub, whether a new building can be shifted slightly to the south to accommodate a taxiway.
An environmental report done for the originally proposed location will have to be amended to see whether noise or harm to wetlands is a factor.
"We don't think there is anything like that up there," said Bill Martin, the airport's director of planning and development. The airport expects to hear next month from DHL on how the airline wants to proceed.
