Amidst all the good news that’s been coming out of the North Central West Virginia Airport for the last few years, something a bit on the negative side creeped up. The only good thing about it is that it’s actually the result of the growth taking place at the airport.

 

According to NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock, the free on-site parking is becoming an issue – and not from a cost standpoint. It’s becoming an issue from an availability standpoint.

 

“It’s actually a pretty big issue,” said Rock. “It’s something we’ve been concerned about for a while because we knew with the growth and the potential for more growth that this could be coming. The growth is here and so is the issue.”

 

The airport has roughly 500 spots for free parking, which is something it touts to draw customers. They’re at their limit.

 

“We knew, even with that many spaces, it may not be enough once we started adding the third day for flying with our destination flights and now have seven flights a week to both Chicago and Washington, D.C.,” said Rock. “With the popularity of the destination flights to Orlando and Myrtle in particular, we knew the extra days were going to push the limits. We’re actually over capacity right now.”

 

The problem could be worse, but Rock said the airport worked with one of its tenants – Bombardier, now Mitsubishi – to help with the problem. For years, dozens of workers at that facility had utilized the portion of the parking lot furthest away from the terminal.

 

“Bombardier is always good to work with and we found some space in a vacant lot that used to house the old Alpha t-hangars that’s actually closer to their facility,” said Rock. “That lot had 80 cars in it and it freed up 80 spaces for passengers.”

 

Rock said the solution isn’t permanent. He did say, for now, it’s a “win-win” because of additional parking for passengers and parking closer to the business for workers. However, he said even with the additional parking more is needed.

 

“We’re looking to acquire some adjacent property from property owners for one long-term solution. We’re also, once this busy destination season is over in August with three flights, we’re going to restripe and reseal the parking lot,” said Rock. “That will give us an opportunity to do what we need to do as far as our next move because we think the restriping will provide additional spots.”

 

Rock said this issue is more justification of why there’s a need for a new terminal. For months now, the Benedum Airport Authority – the airport’s governing body – has discussed the very real possibility of a new terminal on the opposite side of the runway with access to State Route 279.

 

“You would have the acreage needed to not only have adequate parking to begin with, but also the acreage needed to expand as we continue to grow. Our plans are to continue to grow,” said Rock. “We’re looking out at the next 20 years of growth and the extra land that would come with a new terminal in the area we’re looking at works. This is a far cry from the average we used to have in that lot.”

 

Rock said when he began as director, there were often as few as 24 vehicles in the lot. He said there’s never been as many cars utilizing the facility since he began his initial role in 1999 at the treasurer for the Airport Authority.

 

Editor's Note: NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock is shown above with a full parking lot behind him, while he's shown in the second photo showing the new secure - and temporary - area where workers with Bombardier are now parking. Third photo shows Rock entering a code that allows the new access area to open. Bottom photo, courtesy of the airport and Deputy Director Shawn Long, shows the airport parking lot in 2013 of the day of the first Allegiant flight with the bulk of the cars in the back being those belonging to workers at Bombardier. As the top photo shows, that has changed.