Airport Commission approves $1.4 million escalator overhaul

The Palm Springs Airport Commission unanimously approved a $1.4 million escalator renovation project Wednesday to address ongoing mechanical failures that have plagued the Sonny Bono Concourse’s passenger access system.

The commission voted to pursue an “in-truss modernization” that will strip the existing escalators down to their structural framework and rebuild them with equipment designed for outdoor conditions. The project is expected to provide more than 20 years of reliable service, according to engineering consultants who presented three options to commissioners.

The escalators, which provide access to 10 gates, have experienced excessive downtime over the past year. One suffered eight maintenance-related failures while the other had 10 breakdowns, far exceeding the expected rate of about four per year, an engineering consultant told commissioners.

“We can’t have an escalator in our main terminal continuously broken down,” said Commissioner David Feltman during the meeting at Palm Springs City Hall.

The current escalators were installed nine years ago but were not originally designed for outdoor use, leaving them vulnerable to the desert environment’s heat, sand and dust. Temperatures in the escalator units exceed 100 degrees from sun exposure, and maintenance contractors can take up to 36 hours to respond to operational issues.

The in-truss modernization was selected over two alternatives: a $350,000 repair-in-place option that offered uncertain long-term reliability, and a full replacement estimated at more than $7 million that would have required relocating chiller equipment, extensive structural modifications and prolonged closure of both escalators.

Engineering processes will begin in late summer, followed by procurement and fabrication. Installation is projected to start in early 2026, with the escalators remaining partially operational during phased work. The project will take approximately 20 weeks to complete, with one escalator remaining operational while the other undergoes renovation.

Staff will bring the item to City Council for contract approval once project details are finalized. The airport team is also exploring ways to accelerate the schedule, including contractor incentives, while marketing and guest services will coordinate passenger messaging and support during construction.

Commissioners discussed strategies to minimize passenger inconvenience during construction, with staff planning enhanced customer service measures and coordinated messaging to assist travelers.

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