Starting Tuesday at 2 a.m. passengers arriving at Pittsburgh International Airport won’t have to hop on the tram to get to their gates. Instead, they’ll be the first to experience PIT’s new $1.7 billion landside terminal with its high twinkling ceilings and a short walk to the gates after the security check.
For the approximately 25,000 people expected to fly in and out on opening day, future flyers and nebby armchair travelers, here’s a look at what’s new.
Getting to the airport
The exit off of I-376 remains the same, but after turning into the airport property the overhead signs will look a little different. The roads to the old terminal will be closed and barricaded and drivers will follow the new signs to the airport, bearing right instead of left.
Drivers can follow signs to drop off and pick up passengers. And there’s a new “wait lot” for drivers to park for free for the first hour before picking up a traveler by baggage claim.
A team of airport employees wearing high visibility purple vests will be scattered throughout the roads and parking lots on opening day to assist travelers as they get used to the new flow.
Parking
There are three main options for people who want to park at the airport — the new Terminal Garage, the new Terminal Lot and the Shuttle Lot.
Pittsburgh International Airport
A map of the new parking options at the airport
The five-story Terminal Garage has 3,300 parking spaces open to the public and is located right next to the new terminal. Signs on each floor show how many spots are open in that row and green overhead lights indicate the open spots. Parking at the garage costs $35 a day. But drivers who book their spot in advance online at parkatpit.com can get a discounted rate as low as $30 a day.
To get to the terminal, people will walk through the Customer Service Building with all the rental car company desks and cross into the ground floor of the new terminal near baggage claim and ground transportation pick up and drop offs. Passengers can head up to the top floor for ticketing and security.
A view of the new Terminal Lot from the new Terminal Garage
The new 2,800-space, open surface Terminal Lot is located next to the garage and a short walk to the new terminal. It costs $25 a day to park in the new lot, with a discounted price as low as $19 a day if booked ahead of time.
There are also hourly rates at both the new garage and lot.
The most affordable option for parking at the airport is the Shuttle Lot, which is made up of the former Economy, Long Term and Extended lots near the old terminal. There is no sidewalk or walking path to the new terminal and visitors must take the shuttle.
There are eight new shuttle buses in the airport’s fleet with more seating and space. And five new heated shuttle bus shelters throughout the lot with a display featuring live tracking, so passengers can see when the next bus will arrive. Once onboard, the shuttle ride is about 10 minutes to the new terminal, according to airport officials. It costs $12 a day to park in this lot or as low as $8 a day if booked ahead of time.
Through the doors
After checking in, passengers will go through security in one location. TSA will feature 12 lanes and all of them will be equipped with new, smart scanners. All passengers will be able to keep their shoes on, laptops in their bags and water and liquid sealed in their water bottles.
There’s only one security checkpoint at PIT’s new terminal.
After security, passengers walk over a bridge into a tunnel that opens into a great hall — intended to mimic the experience of emerging from the Fort Pitt Tunnel into the city — and to their gates.
Other upgrades include outdoor terraces, a new baggage system that’s miles shorter than the current one, a variety of art displays and installations both old and new.
The first flight Tuesday takes off around 5 a.m.
