TRAVERSE CITY — Cherry Capital Airport has opened a new $2.9 million economy parking lot to accommodate record-breaking passenger growth. The 369-space facility is located just north of Costco near the airport’s main entrance in Traverse City.
The expansion follows a year in which more than 400,000 travelers passed through the airport. Airport officials identified the need for more space after a “tipping point” during spring break, when both short-term and long-term lots reached maximum capacity, forcing staff to overflow vehicles into fire department and maintenance areas.
The new economy lot is situated behind Costco, just off the main entrance on South Airport Road. To reach the facility, drivers turn right upon entering the airport grounds instead of turning left toward the main terminal. The 369 new spaces add to the airport’s existing inventory of 1,500 parking spots.
A shuttle service transports passengers from the economy lot to the terminal gates in a loop that takes approximately 5 minutes. When travelers return to Traverse City, the shuttle meets them at the baggage claim area to transport them back to their vehicles.
The economy lot is priced at $4 less per day than the airport’s standard parking rates. Airport official Kline said the expansion was a response to both capacity issues and community feedback regarding parking costs.
“What it made us realize is we needed more space for parking,” Kline said. “And so we added 369 new spaces at the economy lot. But we also heard from the public too, is we want a lower cost option for parking.”
Passenger growth at the facility has been steady over the last two decades. Twenty years ago, approximately 90,000 local travelers used the airport annually, a figure that has since grown to more than 400,000. Data shows that 52% of the airport’s passengers are local residents, with most living within 25 miles of the facility.
The airport saw an 18% increase in traffic last year. Kline said the airport intends to scale its infrastructure to match the needs of the surrounding area.
“As the local community grows, we’ll grow with it,” Kline said. “And so as the airport has grown in size, you know, last year we grew about 18%. And I think we’ll see about more of a 5 to 6% growth. So I think, you know, you’re going to do that as the community grows, so does the airport.”
In addition to the economy lot, the airport has recently added cell phone parking. Officials are also evaluating other services to address the growing demand for multi-modal travel options across Northern Michigan.