OAK Temporarily Reduces Spaces in Economy Lot for Construction – Parking Guaranteed at Economy Rate
-- Customers Experiencing Improved Service in Hourly, Daily and ValuPark Lots --
Oakland, Calif., Sept. 5, 2007 - Oakland International Airport (OAK) continues with its $300 million Terminal Improvement Program which includes reconstruction and upgrades to parking lots. This week, OAK will begin installing a new revenue control system in the Economy lot necessitating a reduction in spaces in this lot for two months. Customers are already experiencing improvements in the Hourly, Daily and ValuPark lots.
Beginning Thursday, September 6, the Economy lot capacity will be reduced by half, with about 700 spaces available to customers, for approximately two months. This is necessary to install a new parking revenue control system and to ensure that parking staff can provide the highest level of service to customers.
During the construction period and when the Economy lot fills, OAK's Parking Upgrade Program will be in effect. Travelers will be given a voucher at the Economy lot entrance and redirected to the ValuPark lot which is located closer to the terminals. When customers show the voucher upon exiting ValuPark at the end of their parking stay, the lower Economy rate will be charged.
The Hourly and Daily lots are now served by a consolidated exit plaza with six exit lanes, each with a cashier, which was recently opened. The customer experience is improved as a new parking revenue control system speeds up each transaction.
Other ongoing improvements to the Hourly and Daily lots include: reconstructed entrances; resurfacing and new striping with improved layout; new lighting and improved signage allowing customers to locate their cars more easily; and new overhead canopies between the Hourly lot and terminals. These improvements will be mostly complete in November 2007.
"These parking improvements are part of Oakland International Airport's $300 Terminal Improvement Program which is designed to add convenience and customer service to the travel experience," said Steven Grossman, Director of Aviation. "Our convenient, close-in parking lots have always been popular with travelers, but now they'll find that entering and exiting is easier and quicker."
By January 2008, three self-service exit lanes will be added at the Hourly/Daily exit plaza allowing customers to use a ticketless "credit card in / credit card out" feature which reduces wait times.
The new parking revenue control system is also operating in OAK's ValuPark lot. In all four lots combined, OAK is adding 1,100 parking spaces.
OAK encourages frequent fliers to enroll in its ParkSmart program at www.oaklandairport.com to get the latest updates, discounts, and parking promotions.
OAK offers approximately 6,000 parking spaces in its three extended-stay lots (less the 760 in the Economy lot beginning September 6 for about two months). An additional 670 spaces are available in the close-in Hourly lot. OAK's parking lots are open 24 hours a day. Frequent and free shuttles link the lots and the terminals. For parking availability, travelers can call TravInfo's 511-information line, the airport's parking assistance line at 510-563-3200, or visit www.oaklandairport.com. On-airport parking rates per 24 hours are: $15 in Economy, $19 in ValuPark, $22 in Daily and $32 in Hourly. Valet service is available and located between Terminals 1 and 2 on the third curb.
OAK's Park & Call Zone allows meeters and greeters who can connect to their passenger by cell phone to wait for FREE up to 30 minutes. Drivers must remain with their vehicles at all times. The 25-space Park & Call Zone is located at the Oakland Maintenance Center which is the large hangar with billboard advertisements clearly visible to motorists as they enter the airport terminal area. Once contacted, drivers should turn right upon exiting the Park & Call Zone to pick-up their waiting passenger at either terminal.
OAK's $300 million Terminal Improvement Program also includes new facilities and features as follows: a seven-gate concourse with a food court and shopping area, baggage claim, expanded areas for ticketing and passenger screening, in-line explosives detection baggage screening system, all in Terminal 2. Improvements to the terminal roadway and curbsides will improve access and ease traffic congestion in front of both terminals and are expected to be complete by spring 2008.
OAK has over 200 flights a day on 13 domestic and international carriers to 42 nonstop destinations. OAK served over 14.4 million passengers and handled over 668,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2006. The airport is a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, an independent department of the city of Oakland. Visit www.oaklandairport.com for more information.
