Inside the $1.6 Billion Plan to Revitalize Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Mayor Justin Bibb and Port Control Director Bryant Francis unveiled plans and action steps today for a $1.6 billion first-phase, five-step program of improvements to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in the next seven years, representing the start of more phases to come. The improvements come as Hopkins celebrates its 100th birthday this year.

The ultimate creation of this initial phase is a spacious, glassy, high-ceiling terminal where people will get tickets, check their bags and undergo security screening. But many things — parking lots and garages, the existing rapid transit station and current roadways — must be moved out of the way first to make way for the new terminal.

This video and the screenshots from it published in this article help provide a clearer description of how things must be built, moved and demolished like a shifting squares puzzle to realize Hopkins’ Terminal Modernization Development Program (TMDP).

Unfortunately, for many more years to come, visitors’ first impressions of Cleveland will continue to be the same concourses that exist now until they can be rebuilt or replaced in future phases of the overall $3 billion TMDP.

While city officials are planning a new airport terminal, the first few steps of the will create more of a landside multimodal transportation station featuring cars, buses and trains. It will add thousands of parking spaces, construct a new rapid transit train station and create a hub for shuttle buses to area hotels and other local attractions.

The airport will feature by 2029 a new $301 million Ground Transportation Center with a 6,000-space parking garage on the existing Orange Lot plus a new rail station for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (GCRTA) Red Line to Downtown Cleveland and University Circle — respectively Ohio’s first- and fourth-largest employment centers.

To make room for that, airport officials and their contractors will build by next year a new 1,600-space Gold Lot next where the vacant Concourse D is currently located. Then the 4,000-space Smart Garage can be demolished to build new airport roadways servicing a new airport terminal. After new walkways to the existing concourses are built, the old terminal and air traffic control tower will be demolished.

At peak travel times, finding parking at Hopkins Airport lots can be a challenge. During spring break a month ago, all five city-owned lots at the airport were filled by the afternoons. Plus, private lots on Snow Road were reported at near-capacity.

In 2024, Hopkins saw 10 million travelers — the most since 2008 when it was a mini-hub for Continental Airlines. Nowadays, most travelers aren’t changing flights here, but local travelers are parking cars, checking bags and going through security. That has put increased demands on an aging, cramped terminal.

Bibb and airport officials branded the TMDP as the “CLEvolution — A Bold Departure.” They said the airport needs to evolve to meet the needs of today’s travelers while paving the way for the future of aviation in Northeast Ohio.

It is being funded in part by the airlines which have signed on to provide $476 million in financial support — $301 million now on top of $175 million approved a year ago to support design, programming and initial project steps. Some of the first portions of the TMDP are already appearing on the landscape, such as a renovated office on Cargo Road for project engineers and consultants.

“We’ve heard our guests loud and clear, and in collaboration with our airline partners, the decision was made to begin moving this program forward,” said Francis in a written statement. “The feedback of our airline representatives has been central to our planning process, and their ideas surrounding our future are greatly valued.”

“Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is more than just a transportation hub, it’s the front door to our region, shaping the first and last impressions of everyone who visits our city,” Bibb added.

“As mayor, I am fully committed to advocating for the transformation of this vital asset,” he said. “I stand proudly behind the airport team’s efforts to deliver a modern, welcoming experience that reflects the innovation, pride, and momentum of our city. Cleveland deserves, and will have, a world-class airport.”

Since Hopkins’ terminal facilities must remain operational during its multi-year transformation, these improvements will evolve in steps. On May 1, signatory airline partners unanimously approved an additional $301 million of funding to support increased public parking capacity, a critical component of the first phase. This phase will contribute to addressing Hopkins’ front door: parking, roadways, ticketing level and security checkpoints.

“This multi-year project promises to unlock a wave of opportunity for our local economy and our community,” said Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin. “I, along with the entire City Council, stand firmly behind the airport’s vision and hard work. We’re excited and optimistic about the future these improvements will bring to Cleveland.”

First, the new Gold Lot will be created adjacent to Concourse D. The $22.5 million project, approved as part of the initial $175 million in airline funding in 2024, will add 1,600 parking spaces and is expected to debut in 2026.

Once the Gold Lot is operational, work will begin on a new, larger parking garage at the site of the current Orange Lot. This garage will increase the airport’s garage parking capacity from 4,000 to 6,000 spaces and will include a new Ground Transportation Center and GCRTA Red Line rail station.

The tracks for that station will be moved so that a future extension of the Red Line beyond the airport could be possible. The Ground Transportation Center is also planned next to an existing Amtrak passenger rail line that is being considered for improved and expanded services by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

All Aboard Ohio noted in its blog today that high-performance trains to Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati and other Ohio cities, none of which are linked by air to Cleveland, could pass next to and serve Hopkins as a satellite station in addition to Downtown Cleveland’s. So could trains to Sandusky, Toledo and Detroit which is part of a separate planning effort by ODOT.

After the new garage and transportation center is in place, the current Smart Parking Garage will be demolished. The site of the old garage will evolve into the new, modernized front door of Hopkins. This estimated $1.1 billion project is expected to be completed in 2032. Further airline funding approvals will be required.

In total, the landside projects of the TMDP represent an investment of approximately $1.6 billion. Consultants serving the program include airport development strategists Paslay Group, architecture firm Corgan, plus Connico, DVA Architecture, LLC, Robert P. Madison International, Inc., McGuiness Unlimited, Inc., and Regency Construction Services, Inc.

Hopkins Airport will host an Industry Day event on June 3 to present the program to consultants, contractors, local businesses, services and the aviation industry.

Decisions will be made later regarding the extent of improvements to the airside of the terminal campus, after execution has begun on the landside phase. Phase one includes the most critical components of the project due to the strain on the airport’s landside infrastructure and facilities.

Future phases of the terminal modernization program will be design to address the airport’s three in-use concourses. However, master plan graphics for those elements do not yet exist.

Eleven passenger airlines offer over 125 daily departures from Cleveland to 47 nonstop destinations — 42 domestic and five  international. There are also four all-cargo airlines serving Hopkins Airport.

For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.

Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.