Expansion of Hector International Airport may include a parking garage

As Hector International Airport continues to work on an expansion project, officials say there have always been plans for a parking garage in its master plan.

FARGO, ND (KVRR) – An expansion of Hector International Airport will add five terminals and upgrade its apron.

The goal is to start from September and finish the project by the end of 2025.

Officials say the city’s growth is one of the big reasons for the changes, with data showing ridership has been on the rise for the past two decades.

“This is all based on the terminal area survey that has been completed. It’s on our website if you want to see the terminal area survey. The Federal Aviation Administration requires that this study be completed before we can justify expanding the terminal. “We will be working with the contractor, architect and engineering partners to see if we can break ground this year,” Doberstein said.

Fargo Airport posted renderings of the renovation project on social media.

Many responded by sharing their frustration at the lack of better parking options, especially during the colder months.

“We’ve been working with the city and some local experts on parking. Not just SP+, which manages our parking lot now, and Walker Consultants in town to see if it’s possible for us to do an extension and maybe put it in a parking garage,” says Doberstein.

He says adding a parking garage won’t come from the federal budget, as the terminal expansion does.

“It’s something we’re looking at. We heard that message loud and clear. Airport authorities must be fiscally responsible. With limited federal funding and limited state funding that we have, the garage is not subject to any federal funding because it is a revenue generator. So it must be a bond issue or something. So time will tell, but stay tuned. We will discuss it over the next few weeks,” he said.

Doberstein says the expansion project could cost up to $125 million.

According to him, if the airport is expanded with a parking garage, this project alone could cost up to 43 million dollars.