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Airport parking structures are integral to the travel experience and provide an important revenue source for airport operations. Like any physical asset, a parking structure has a finite service life and requires regular maintenance and periodic structural repair and restoration. Because of the constant access required by travelers, undertaking maintenance and structural repair in a parking structure while it remains in use presents many challenges, including maintaining a high level of services at all times and establishing appropriate patron and asset protections. As a result, it is desirable to have a balanced and methodical approach to meet those challenges. The objective of this synthesis report is to provide information on developing and imple- menting successful maintenance and repair strategies for in-use airport parking structures that have the least impact on the airport patrons, revenue stream, and facility operations. A group of 15 airports were identified and contacted for their participation in this survey. Twelve airports (eight large hubs and four medium hubs) responded, for a response rate of 80%. Survey questionnaires were developed and sent to the airport operators and managers prior to administration of the telephone interviews. Literature indicated that establishing and following formal asset management protocols is beneficial to protecting an airportâs capital assets; so an overall airport facility asset man- agement program should include an asset management module for airport parking struc- tures. Having such a module also allows planners to align funding and staffing resources for parking with long-term airport goals. The asset management program also helps focus on and clarify when and what type of renewal (repair and maintenance) can be undertaken systematically for the parking structures so as to minimize disruption while maintaining round-the-clock operations. Key components of a successful in-use renovation include understanding the background and historical data of the parking structure; establishment of renewal approaches; involvement of all stakeholders in planning to meet parking demands and level of service during repair; and communication of anticipated changes to affected parties. Survey data indicated that airport parking operators and managers already keep track of financial operations data, parking space demand throughout the year, and the history of maintenance and repair on the parking structures. These records allow managers to schedule the renewal activities for slower parking demand periods and thus maximize the number of parking spaces that can be made available for repair. Parking structures in surveyed large hubs were found to have an average age of about 19 years. Annual and scheduled maintenance have been undertaken regularly but typically on an as-needed basis. Eight of the 12 surveyed airport hubs have annual budgets set aside for parking structure renewal. Three of the eight large hubs surveyed have undertaken significant restoration work in their parking structures in the past 10 years. As parking structures age, more renewal projects can be anticipated. However, depending on the condition of the park- ing structure, as-needed repair may not be a cost-effective approach to maintain the parking structure. SUMMARY REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING AIRPORT PARKING STRUCTURES WHILE IN USE
2 A successful renewal effort for airport parking structures includes maintaining a perceived high level of service throughout the construction process. Such a perception can be boosted by early and continued involvement of all stakeholders, including airport management, park- ing operators, in-house maintenance department, airlines, airport tenants, and other support services such as signage and finance departments. With so many stakeholders, good communication is critical, especially in the construction phase of the renewal process. Effective airport parking operators inform parking patrons of activities well in advance and at strategic locations as they approach the work zone. Multiple means of communication, from traditional newspapers to highly sophisticated digital elec- tronic guidance systems, have been successful in reaching a broad range of patrons. The bet- ter the public and airport users are informed, the easier patrons can adjust to the temporary changes in the traffic pattern and the parking arrangement during construction. Incentives such as fee discounts can be used to compensate for this temporary inconvenience. This synthesis found that there is no established deterioration curve for parking structures. Renewal projects are typically undertaken as a result of observed distress or deterioration. However, if definitions of deterioration characteristics of parking structures were made avail- able, a renewal program could be developed that is more cost-effective and performed at optimum intervals. More research is needed to establish a typical deterioration curve for parking structures. Research is also needed to formulate guidelines for developing asset management pro- grams for airport parking structures. Although overall airport asset management guidelines are available, a specific framework pertaining to parking structures is not. More focused guidelines may promote wider adoption of asset management programs. In addition, keeping a database on unit renewal costs for parking structures may provide helpful tools in budgeting and establishing long-range asset strategies.
