Consolidated rental car facility

A bus reading "rental car center" seen at a U.S. airport
These facilities are located away from the terminal buildings, and are often accessed using shuttle buses like this one seen at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas.

A consolidated rental car facility (CRCF) or consolidated rental car center (CONRAC) is a complex that hosts numerous car rental agencies, typically found at airports in the United States.

The most important incentives for building consolidated facilities are greatly reduced traffic congestion in airport pick up and drop off areas and increased convenience for travelers. A single unified fleet of shuttle buses can serve all car rental agencies, instead of each company operating their own individual shuttle buses which may come less frequently. Congestion can be further reduced by connecting the consolidated facility to the airport terminal with a people mover.

Consolidated facilities are typically built around two areas: a customer service building where each company operates retail counters to serve renters, and a "ready/return" lot or garage where cars are temporarily parked while ready and awaiting a renter, or when recently returned and in need of servicing before the next rental.

Facilities usually also feature a Quick Turn Around (QTA) area either on-site or at a nearby location, where light maintenance of vehicles can be conducted including cleaning, fueling, and inspection of engine fluids. There can be several QTA areas operated by the different companies, or the services can be shared.[1]

The first known consolidated facility was built at Sacramento International Airport in 1994.[2][3] However, as early as 1974, four companies were already sharing facilities and shuttle buses at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, and in 1988 companies at Minneapolis–Saint Paul airport introduced common shuttle buses.[4] These differed from modern CONRACs in that the majority of rental car companies at Dallas/Fort Worth continued to operate their own off-site facilities and shuttle buses, while at Minneapolis, only the shuttle buses and not the facilities themselves were shared (in other words, a single shuttle bus line served multiple off-site rental car companies).[4]

Furthermore, the rental car industry has seen major mergers, creating three major holding companies that now represent ten brands commonly seen at airports, the Avis Budget Group (which operates Avis Car Rental, Budget Rent a Car, Payless Car Rental and Zipcar), Enterprise Holdings (which operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent a Car and National Car Rental) and The Hertz Corporation (which operates Hertz Rent A Car, Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental).[5] Because of these mergers, even in cities without a consolidated facility, many of these companies have consolidated all their brands into one location.

Locations

Locale Airport Year Notes
Sacramento, CA Sacramento International Airport 1994 First facility in the U.S.[1][2]
Cedar Rapids, IA Eastern Iowa Airport 1996 Opened New Joint Use Rental Car Facility in 1996
Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport 1998 Had been operating common shuttle buses since 1988.[4]
Cleveland, OH Cleveland Hopkins International Airport 1998 [6]
San Francisco, CA San Francisco International Airport 1998 Connected to AirTrain APM (automated people mover) system. Expanded in June 2008[7]
Dallas–Ft. Worth, TX Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 2000 In 1990, DFW had two rental car sites on the north and south sides of the airport. Both hosted Avis, Budget, Hertz and National.[4]
A new facility that consolidated more brands opened south of the airport in March 2000[8]
Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque International Sunport 2001 [9]
Baltimore, MD–Washington, DC Baltimore/Washington International Airport 2003 [10]
Houston, TX George Bush Intercontinental Airport 2003 [11]
Oakland, CA Oakland International Airport 2003 [12]
Ft. Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport 2005 At its opening, this was the largest facility in the US.[13]
Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 2006 Connected to PHX Sky Train APM.[14]
Las Vegas, NV Harry Reid International Airport 2007 [15]
Kansas City, MO Kansas City International Airport 2007 [16]
Anchorage, AK Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport 2007 [17]
Spokane, WA Spokane International Airport 2008 [18]
Atlanta, GA Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport 2009 Connected to ATL SkyTrain APM.[19]
Fresno, CA Fresno Yosemite International Airport 2009 [20]
Miami, FL Miami International Airport 2010 Connected to MIA Mover APM. Part of the Miami Intermodal Center[21]
San Jose, CA San Jose International Airport 2010 [22]
Nashville, TN Nashville International Airport 2011 [23][24]
Memphis, TN Memphis International Airport 2012 [25][26]
Seattle, WA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 2012 At opening, largest facility in the US to win LEED Silver certification.[27][28][29][30]
New Orleans, LA Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 2012 [31][32][33]
Chicago, IL Midway International Airport 2013
Boston, MA Logan International Airport 2013 [34]
Newark, NJ/New York City Newark Liberty International Airport 2013/2023 Original location closed, with a new one opened in 2023 as part of new Terminal A project.[35] Connected to AirTrain Newark monorail.[36]
Burbank, CA Hollywood Burbank Airport 2014 Part of the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center.
San Juan, Puerto Rico Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport 2014
Moline, IL Quad Cities International Airport 2014
Austin, TX Austin–Bergstrom International Airport 2015 [37]
Charlotte, NC Charlotte Douglas International Airport 2015 [38]
San Diego, CA San Diego International Airport 2016 [39]
Oklahoma City, OK Will Rogers World Airport 2016 [40]
Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake City International Airport 2016 [41][42]
San Antonio, TX San Antonio International Airport 2018 [43]
Tampa, FL Tampa International Airport 2018 Connected to SkyConnect APM.[44][45][46][47][48]
Chicago, IL O'Hare International Airport 2018 Connected to Airport Transit System APM.[49][50]
Kahului, HI Kahului Airport 2019 Connected to CONRAC Tram.[51]
Honolulu, HI Daniel K. Inouye International Airport 2020
Columbus, OH John Glenn Columbus International Airport 2021 [52]
Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport 2021 [53]
Portland, OR Portland International Airport 2021
Windsor Locks, CT Bradley International Airport 2022
Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 2024 The US$1.5 billion building is the largest CONRAC in the world at 6,300,000 square feet (590,000 m2) and hosts up to 21,000 rental vehicles. It connects to the airport's terminals by an under construction people mover.[54][55]

Facilities under construction

The Reno–Tahoe International Airport is currently building a Rental Car and Ground Transportation Center, scheduled to open in 2028. [12][56]

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, MI is currently construction a 4-story ConRAC, scheduled to open in 2026.[57]

References

  1. ^ a b Weiner, Jeffrey A. (September 2, 2010). "CONRACS Evolving From Novelty to Norm". Auto Rental News. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Gunn, Derek L.; George, Osborne R.; Holcomb, Scott D.; Bekele, Addisu M.; Ardeshiri, Anam; Zheng, Jianyang (2014). "Estimating Vehicle Trips for Consolidated Rental Car Facilities at Commercial Airports: An Emerging Need and Case Study". ITE Journal. 84 (4): 41–47. ProQuest 1517636183 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ Gonzales, Anne (October 23, 1994). "Sacramento with a capital S". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Wade, Betsy (December 25, 1994). "PRACTICAL TRAVELER; Airports Merge Car-Rental Vans". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "LAX Consolidated Rent-a-Car Facility Achieves Tenant Hand over Milestone, Moves One Step Closer to Completion". Aviation Pros. June 6, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Car Rental". World Airport Guides. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  7. ^ "Travel Media Information". June 28, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ "DFW International Airport Board Proposed FY 2010 Budget (p.77)" (PDF). Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. 2000. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  9. ^ "Rental Car Facility Art – Albuquerque International Sunport – City of Albuquerque". 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  10. ^ "Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport". 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  11. ^ "Consolidated". 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "PGAL: Consolidated Rental Car Design by PGAL - Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  13. ^ "Construction Contract Review of the Consolidated Rental Car Facility (RAC) at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport" (PDF). Broward County. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  14. ^ "References" (PDF). City of Phoenix. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  15. ^ "McCarran Rent-A-Car Center" (PDF). Clark County Department of Aviation. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  16. ^ Yu, Roger (April 29, 2007). "Airport Check-in: Kansas City rentals in one place". USA Today. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  17. ^ Yu, Roger (July 22, 2007). "Airport Check-in: Seattle-Tacoma considers holiday decor". USA Today. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  18. ^ Prager, Mike (November 12, 2008). "Car rental a short walk away". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  19. ^ "CONRAC History". Department of Aviation-City of Atlanta. 2009. Archived from the original on February 22, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  20. ^ "Rental Car Facility (ConRAC) at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT)". PGAL. March 8, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "MIA RCC". Miami Dade County Aviation Department. Archived from the original on November 28, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  22. ^ "Terminal Area Improvement Program" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  23. ^ "Airport Celebrates Opening Of New Larger Rental Car Facility". Nashville, Tennessee: WTVF. November 16, 2011. Archived from the original (TV) on April 6, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  24. ^ "New Rental Car Facility To Open At Nashville Airport". Airport Magazine. October 25, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  25. ^ "Consolidated Parking and Rental Car Facility is the Most Complete Airport Ground Transportation Center in the Country". Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority. January 6, 2011. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  26. ^ Yu, Roger (April 15, 2007). "Airport Check-in: Harrisburg mosaic restored". USA Today. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  27. ^ "Rental car facility to open at Sea-Tac". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  28. ^ "Energy Efficiency". Port of Seattle. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  29. ^ "Positive Economic Sign: Rental Car Facility Construction Starts Back". Port of Seattle. Archived from the original on November 4, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  30. ^ Yu, Roger (October 6, 2009). "Airports spread out check-in kiosks to cut down on lines". USA Today. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  31. ^ "Consolidated Rent-A-Car (CONRAC) Garage". New Orleans: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. 2011. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  32. ^ "Airport Expansion – A New Plan for the Future – 09/01/2011". New Orleans: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. September 1, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  33. ^ Yu, Roger (April 21, 2008). "Airport Check-in: Sculpture inspired by flight takes wing". USA Today. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  34. ^ "Big Move For Rental Car Companies At Logan Airport". CBSBoston.com. September 24, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  35. ^ "Newark, NJ". www.conracsolutions.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  36. ^ "Newark Liberty International Airport > Ground Transportation > Car Rental". Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  37. ^ "Austin, TX".
  38. ^ "Charlotte Douglas International Airport Rental Car Facility & Hourly Parking Deck". Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  39. ^ "Airport Plans Jan. 20 Opening for New Rental Car Center".
  40. ^ "Airports Department Strategic Business Plan".
  41. ^ "Salt Lake City Airport Opens New Rental Car Facility".
  42. ^ "The New SLC booklet" (PDF). p. 8.
  43. ^ "San Antonio International Airport Opens New Consolidated Rental Car Facility".
  44. ^ "Tampa International dedicates SkyConnect, new Rental Car Center".
  45. ^ "Video; Terminal to TPA ConRAC".
  46. ^ "Video; Three years in three minutes". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021.
  47. ^ "SkyConnect Ribbon Cutting". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021.
  48. ^ "Tampa International Airport train and car rental center open Feb. 14, with big office project in the pipeline".
  49. ^ "New O'Hare Airport parking, rental car facility opens Wednesday". November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  50. ^ "Airport Transit System". Chicago Department of Aviation. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  51. ^ "$340M rental car facility opens at Kahului Airport".
  52. ^ "Rental Cars".
  53. ^ "CVG opens new rental car and ground transportation center". Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  54. ^ "LAX Consolidated Rent-A-Car Center (CONRAC)". Los Angeles World Airports. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  55. ^ "LAX". Avis Rent a Car. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  56. ^ https://www.renoairport.com/newsroom/release-reno-tahoe-international-airports-ground-transportation-center-receives-official-greenlight-for-2028-delivery/
  57. ^ Channel 3, Anthony Sylvester | News (May 31, 2023). "Gerald R. Ford International Airport to add consolidated rental car facility". WWMT. Retrieved April 11, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)