With the passage of Measure B by Burbank voters in November 2016, planning for the 14-gate replacement passenger terminal, now called Elevate BUR, began and is quickly reaching the final stages before design and construction begins.
In 2018, the Airport completed a Concept Validation Study (found under tab The Project) to research the engineering feasibility of the preferred location. This study confirmed that Elevate BUR building and the other project elements are functional on the site.
On October 26, 2019, the Airport held the final Public Design Charrette Workshop (see Charrette Workshops tab). The charrette workshop process consisted of a series of six workshops in the City of Burbank, as well as workshops in Glendale, Los Angeles and Pasadena, conducted by a professional facilitator to collect information from the community that will be used to inform the design-phase of the project. A document that provides a description of the process and the information it obtained is currently being compiled by the facilitator and will be available to the public soon. The final deliverable will also be incorporated into the Program Definition Manual and scoring criteria for selection of a design proposal.
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the project. This is the most stringent and thorough level of review available. NEPA is explained below.
The Concept Validation Study, Public Design Charrette Workshops, and Environmental Impact Statement together represent the Airport Authority’s commitment that the project be well planned, thoroughly reviewed, and inclusive of the community. These efforts will help ensure that the Airport delivers a modern, sustainable, convenient facility that will serve the community for decades to come.
The Airport has announced the intent to pursue a Progressive Design-Build delivery model for Elevate BUR. On October 30, 2019, the Airport held an Industry Day for the project, inviting interested firms to gather information on the status of the project and the next steps. Shortly after the Industry Day, on November 4, 2019, the Airport Authority Commission approved a Professional Services Agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for Program Management services. The presentation from Industry and the attendees list are available here:
What is an ALP?
ALP stands for “Airport Layout Plan.” It is a drawing used to depict current and future airport facilities. Under federal law, an airport must keep its ALP up-to-date. For proposed projects like the Replacement Terminal, the FAA must approve a revised ALP prior to approving the project.The FAA has approved the airport’s revised ALP, which includes the Replacement Passenger Terminal.
What is NEPA?
NEPA stands for the “National Environmental Policy Act.” NEPA requires federal agencies like the FAA to incorporate environmental considerations in their planning and decision-making. All federal agencies must prepare assessments of the environmental impact of and alternatives to federal actions. These statements are commonly referred to as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA). NEPA is similar to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires local and state government decision makers to assess the environmental impacts of proposed projects. A major project like the Replacement Passenger Terminal usually requires the preparation and certification of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prior to a local or state government agency taking a discretionary action about the project. The FAA must undertake a NEPA review of the Replacement Passenger Terminal before it can approve federal funding for its construction. Like CEQA, NEPA requires federal agencies to include public participation in reviewing and commenting on the scope and findings of a draft EIS.
