Cleveland International Airport Master Plan 

The greater Cleveland area is a diverse community, home to nearly four million people and nine Fortune 500 companies. It is a major U.S. manufacturing center experiencing significant growth in the services industry, including the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), which has enjoyed similar growth in air service, passengers, and operations. RS&H assisted the airport with completing a Master Plan to support this growth.   

Planning and Implementation

Since 2014, the character of CLE has changed dramatically, as airline service shifted from airline hub operations to an airport serving almost exclusively origin and destination passengers. This has resulted in greater demand for ticketing, security screening, and curbside and ground access than was anticipated during the design of the passenger terminal building. RS&H was almost finished with the master plan forecasts when the pandemic fully impacted the US and quickly revised the forecasts to include rapid recovery (V-shaped) and gradual recovery (U-shaped) scenarios.  

The prompt correction resulted in a capital program which includes the development of ultimate terminal and landside configurations, as well as a realistic approach for expanding the front of terminal processors and parking and reducing congestion at the curb frontage and the surrounding access roadway intersections. In addition, development plans for airport facilities such as air cargo, general aviation, airline support, and airport support included various options, from on-site reconstruction and infill to a full redevelopment to obtain more efficient layouts.  

The master plan efforts included a public outreach program that included two committees and a series of public meetings. When the pandemic hit, RS&H quickly shifted to virtual meetings, including a full virtual public meeting space with multiple presentations and information stations.