Airport development plan faces public scrutiny at community meeting over its future

Last month, the Palm Springs City Council delayed approving the Palm Springs International Airport’s (PSP) conceptual development plan, citing the need for more public input. At a community meeting Tuesday evening, residents had the opportunity to provide that feedback, learn about the airport’s master planning project, and ask questions.

Driving the news: About 150 people from across the Coachella Valley attended the meeting, which took place at the Palm Springs Convention Center, to hear about the progress on the master plan. Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein and City Manager Scott Stiles joined them. 

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires the master plan, which is used as a planning tool to guide the airport’s development in the coming decades.

By the numbers: Data shows the airport saw about 3.2 million passengers in 2023 — a new record. By 2042, consultants working on the master plan estimate the airport will need to accommodate six million. To meet that growth, the plan is for the airport to increase its number of gates from 18 to 32.

• The estimated cost of the plan is around $2.3 billion. The money will come from the airport’s revenue, grant funds, and federal government funds.

What they’re saying: “We’re about 10 years behind where we need to be,” said PSP Executive Director Harry Barrett. “My focus right now is catching up to where we need to be to make sure that the airport continues to function efficiently.”

The latest: The plan would see a new concourse built north of the existing building, a new 45-foot-tall rental car facility, more parking, and improvements throughout the facility. 

Top of mind: The biggest concerns for residents at the meeting were issues such as an increase in vehicle traffic, especially rental cars, and a desire for more public transportation options.

• “My favorite cities to travel to are cities where I get off the plane, and I can make use of rapid transit or public transit to get to my destination,” said one attendee.
  
  
• Others were concerned about losing the airport’s charm and architectural qualities.

In sync: Residents’ concerns were on the same track as city councilmembers who, at the meeting on May 9, decided to delay approval of the conceptual development plan because they wanted to hear more about possible traffic problems and solutions as well as expanding transit options including buses and connections to the future Coachella Valley rail project.

What happens next: Airport officials said they plan to return to the council with the conceptual development plan sometime in the fall, after more public input meetings over the summer.

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