The $156 million dollar project is the first of its kind in Michigan, centralizing all rental car operations into one state-of-the-art structure on the airport’s east side accessed by indoor walkways.
It will house seven car rental companies and free up more than 1000 covered parking spaces at the airport.
“The CONRAC footprint includes a five-story ready/return parking garage with about 1300 parking spaces plus a three-story quick turnaround facility with 16 fuel pumps and 8 car washes all within that facility.”
Casey Ries, Chief Asset Development Officer for the Airport Authority explains by avoiding having to take each rental car off-site to be cleaned and fueled, officials estimate it will reduce carbon emissions by 500,000 pounds a year.
Removing over 90% of car rental operations from the roadways will lead to better traffic flow for all guests.
The three years of construction will have a $220 million economic impact on the West Michigan region, supporting over 800 construction jobs says Dave Snyder, Project Executive for Turner Construction.
“85% of the companies that are working on this project are local here in West Michigan. Being a specialty construction project as this is, we find that pretty impressive that we have that capability here locally to do a project of this magnitude and this complexity.”
The CONRAC facility is set to open Spring of 2026.
