Sonoma Co. Airport new terminal opens

Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 6:01 pm

$2.3 million project to be completed in mid-August

SANTA ROSA — An expanded commercial airline passenger terminal for Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport partly reopened to the public today with key upgrades such as indoor baggage pickup and an integrated security checkpoint.

The project is increasing the terminal size by a third, or nearly 5,000 square feet.

The only commercial airline serving Santa Rosa is Horizon Air, which started flights in March 2007. Since then, more than 585,000 commercial passengers have come through the terminal. That includes 109,000 the first year, 204,000 in 2008, 186,000 last year and 85,000 through June.

The terminal now features:

A larger security checkpoint inside the terminal. Previously, passengers had to file into a portable building for screening.
Indoor baggage claim area with a carousel. Before, luggage had to be picked up outside.
More room for baggage handling.
One more ticket counter, bringing the total to three.
Larger passenger and visitor area.
Two new restrooms.
Relocation of rental vehicle counters.
Larger windows and doors on the south side.

Exterior finishes and remodeling of the existing part of the late-1960s terminal building is set to be complete in mid-August. Part of that fourth phase will be four more ticketing kiosks. A grand reopening is being organized for September.

The County of Sonoma received $1.685 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the project. The difference was covered with the passenger facility charge on tickets.

The general contractor for the project was Sonoma-based Murray Building Inc. Mead Hunt’s Santa Rosa office designed the renovation.