Biz J article about Lambert's car rental facilities, the lack of a consolidated facility plan in the new terminal plans, and the possibility of a consolidated facility:
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... setup.html
Quoting:
In its most recent plan, completed in 2023, Lambert said that based on industry and planning standards, a site of up to 81 acres may be required to accommodate a CONRAC at Lambert, assuming all operations – including customer counters; ready/return spaces; cleaning and refueling facility; vehicle storage; and employee parking – are located there. Building on multiple levels could reduce that footprint, it said.
The plan suggested at least part of a CONRAC could be located in Lambert's new garage, if the garage totaled 900,000 square feet. A larger garage posed problems, however, as the terrain rises toward Interstate 70, necessitating excavation, it said.
A CONRAC encompassing 30 acres "would be a suitable solution, and would accommodate customer counters and ready/return spaces on site." Other functions would be located off-site.
The plan provided two possible sites for a CONRAC: 9 acres south of the terminal and 22 acres at Natural Bridge and Fee Fee roads near some residential homes in Bridgeton. It wasn't clear from the master plan whether the CONRAC site south of the terminal was envisioned within or separate from the new garage, which is projected to have more than 7,000 parking spaces.
***
But despite the master plan's projections for increased demand, it also cast doubt on the necessity of pursuing a CONRAC, noting that rental car companies "have not expressed the desire to consolidate their operations into a CONRAC facility."
"A business driver that would justify an investment has yet to arise," it added. Because of that, it said that "siting a CONRAC is not a" top priority.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... setup.html
Quoting:
In its most recent plan, completed in 2023, Lambert said that based on industry and planning standards, a site of up to 81 acres may be required to accommodate a CONRAC at Lambert, assuming all operations – including customer counters; ready/return spaces; cleaning and refueling facility; vehicle storage; and employee parking – are located there. Building on multiple levels could reduce that footprint, it said.
The plan suggested at least part of a CONRAC could be located in Lambert's new garage, if the garage totaled 900,000 square feet. A larger garage posed problems, however, as the terrain rises toward Interstate 70, necessitating excavation, it said.
A CONRAC encompassing 30 acres "would be a suitable solution, and would accommodate customer counters and ready/return spaces on site." Other functions would be located off-site.
The plan provided two possible sites for a CONRAC: 9 acres south of the terminal and 22 acres at Natural Bridge and Fee Fee roads near some residential homes in Bridgeton. It wasn't clear from the master plan whether the CONRAC site south of the terminal was envisioned within or separate from the new garage, which is projected to have more than 7,000 parking spaces.
***
But despite the master plan's projections for increased demand, it also cast doubt on the necessity of pursuing a CONRAC, noting that rental car companies "have not expressed the desire to consolidate their operations into a CONRAC facility."
"A business driver that would justify an investment has yet to arise," it added. Because of that, it said that "siting a CONRAC is not a" top priority.
