The proposed one terminal airport for Kansas City International Airport was the focus of Thursday’s business meeting at City Hall.
Kansas City Council members asked Burns & McDonnell executives questions about their plans to build and pay for a $1 billion, single terminal airport at KCI.
City council members and Burns & McDonnell executives describe the existing multi-terminal configuration at KCI as a 70s style terminal that needs to be brought into the 21st Century.
Some city council members raised concerns that the process is moving too quickly. Others wanted to make sure that the process is transparent and the public is involved.
"Let's make sure that our innovative solution is still something where we are all coming to this, not acting under duress instead of saying look we want a new airport because of this, we like this new deal because of this, not because were saying we've got three weeks or else the barn is flying away in a tornado,” Councilman Quinton Lucas said.
"Our company is investing a lot of time and effort into a process that will ultimately end in agreements that will be debated by the city council and the airlines and the aviation department. This is just the beginning of that process,” explained Ray Kowalik, CEO of Burns & McDonnell.
Burns & McDonnell executives reassured the city council that the new airport design will offer convenience and be a world-class airport.
The proposed one terminal airport would first have to be approved by Kansas City voters. City leaders are trying to get the issue on this year's November ballot.
