CALMSP wrote:jetmatt777 wrote:People keep saying the airport has unlimited capacity to expand and that is 100% not true. The alleyways are congested as it is, and the airfield tends to grind to a halt with the smallest breeze. The train system can’t handle anymore volume and the concourses are already jam packed. Adding another concourse adds load to the train system that it can’t handle, expanding the concourses further adds loads to the concourse facilities that can’t be handled either. And there seems to be zero sense of urgency to remedy any of these issues.
well, to be fair, the airport does have almost unlimited room to expand........capacity on current setup is not unlimited.
True, but the current setup cannot be expanded without radical changes.
In reality the terminal building needs to be completely razed and turned 90 degrees to be parallel to the concourses. This would allow for just a single direction of roadway traffic and no more confusion on "Go to the west side or east side". Another train needs to be built that services the concourses (green dots). Instead of concourse D, concourse T could be integrated into the main terminal, also parallel to the existing concourses. None of these gates would require any train access except for any connecting traffic. An automated people mover would be necessary (yellow) for rental car facilities and parking.
I understand this is fantasy land and would cost a HUGE sum of money, but it is the only way I see the airport being able to truly position itself for long term sustained growth. The current facilities can't even handle the current load. Everything they have done so far has been a band-aid solution. The leg is broken. It needs to be reset, band-aids aren't going to fix this airport. Unfortunately DIA has lacked any leadership to address the issues of this airport. Expanding the concourses and remodeling the confusing main terminal are not long term solutions.