Bwi Airport Opens Free “Cell Phone Lot” For Motorists Meeting Incoming Passengers
Waiting for arriving passengers at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) has become easier for motorists who can now avoid circling Airport roadways by using the new BWI Arrival Waiting Area, which is now open.
The BWI “cell phone lot,” located just inside the Daily B surface parking lot at Aviation Boulevard and Elm Road, is a short-term wait area for those motorists meeting flights that have not yet arrived.
The Arrival Waiting Area, across from the Airport’s Daily A Garage, offers about 50 parking spaces where drivers may wait with their vehicles until making cell phone contact with arriving parties. The “cell phone lot” can easily be expanded to include additional spaces.
“This initiative provides a new service and convenience for our customers,” said Paul J. Wiedefeld, executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration. “The cell phone lot will help those customers waiting to meet arriving travelers to avoid any possible pedestrian or traffic congestion in front of the Airport terminal building due to ongoing roadway construction work.” A key component of BWI Airport’s $1.8 billion improvement and expansion program is to increase roadway capacity. The main terminal roadway is currently being expanded to increase lanes for customer traffic and to double the available curbside area, to make dropping-off and picking-up travelers much easier.
During this construction, BWI’s new Arrival Waiting Area will allow motorists to wait for incoming travelers away from the terminal roadway. After cell phone contact is made with the arriving party, the motorist may then proceed to the Airport terminal. Maryland Transportation Authority Police and Airport personnel will patrol the BWI Arrival Waiting Area.
In addition, BWI customers are encouraged to take advantage of the first free hour of parking currently being offered in the BWI Hourly Garage when dropping-off or picking-up travelers. Use of the Hourly Garage will also allow BWI customers to avoid construction in front of the Airport terminal building.
The Hourly Garage is located directly adjacent to the BWI terminal. This garage provides safe, convenient, and easy access to the Airport terminal by several means, including a new enclosed skywalk with moving walkways, a tunnel, and high-speed, high- capacity elevators.
The Hourly Garage also makes use of the BWI Smart Park system, an automated parking guidance system that makes finding a parking space quick and hassle free.