RDU Airport, NC – The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Board today voted to increase parking rates in the daily section of the airport’s parking garage. On January 16, the daily maximum rate will increase by $2 from $10 to $12. The vote took place at the board’s monthly meeting. The rate for the Park and Ride lots remains unchanged at $6 per 24-hour period.

The Airport Authority last raised the daily rate in January 2004 to its current $10 per day level.

The increase is part of the airport’s financial plan to pay the $570 million cost of Terminal 2, related annual debt service and future renovations to Terminal 1, while maintaining its AA credit rating. The change had been planned to go into effect in 2008. However, with better than projected revenue results, the Airport Authority chose to defer the scheduled parking rate increase to a later date due to the economic downturn.

Prior to today’s meeting, Airport Authority staff reviewed parking rates at airports similar to RDU in size and local passenger activity. The review found that at these airports daily parking rates near the terminals ranged from $12 to $17.

RDU and Wake Tech Form Partnership for Law Enforcement Training
The Airport Authority board today also approved an agreement with Wake Technical Community College. The agreement allows Wake Tech to use RDU’s outdoor firearms range for law enforcement officer training and certification.

Under the agreement, Wake Tech will be permitted to use the range for certified law enforcements officers two weeks per month.

Wake Tech will also make improvements to the range, including installation of a ten-lane pneumatically operated turning target system and construction of a small range tower and storage and training buildings.

Many local law enforcement agencies frequently use RDU’s firearms range; the airport has conducted its annual firearms certification under Wake Tech’s program for many years.

Passenger Activity Increases Slightly in September
Passenger activity at RDU rose just under 1 percent in September compared to September 2010. Throughout the month, 735,830 passengers traveled through RDU compared to 728,758 during the same period last year.

Year-to-date 6.8 million passengers have used RDU, up just under 1 percent from 2010.

In September the amount of cargo that passed through RDU rose 19.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date, cargo numbers are down 7.2 percent.

###