County officials are ready to redesign Westchester airport, having selected 11 companies to submit their best proposals to modernize the antiquated terminal.
The effort, according to the county, is needed to bring the decades-old Westchester County Airport (HPN) in Purchase up to par with today’s aviation standards – especially in the face of massive renovation projects at New York City airports enticing travelers from the greater metropolitan area.
“When flying out of HPN, we want our passengers to be safe, and we also want them to be able to sit down, wait for their flight, and enjoy simple things like a cup of coffee — at this moment, that isn’t possible,” Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, a Democrat, said. “This planning effort represents an important first step toward changing that.”
The county announced it would be officially sending a request for proposals (RFP) to the 11 companies on Oct. 7.
The Rye City Council in September passed a resolution to support the county’s airport revitalization plan, but urged officials to seriously consider the environmental impact for new development around HPN. The council, via the local Intermunicipal Airport Master Plan Task Force, also asked the county to contemplate safety, traffic, and noise.
For these firms, plans for the county-owned airport redesign must include a “full re-imagination” of the three-level, 96,000-square-foot terminal. The county has also added that firms should work to utilize the current infrastructure as much as possible – including frontage roadways, loading dock areas, and rental car lots.
Whichever proposal the county chooses will likely have between a $100 million-$150 million price tag, Jenkins told CBS News.
Currently at HPN, there are minimal outlets for passengers to charge their electronic devices before takeoff. The airport also only has one restaurant and one newsstand beyond the TSA checkpoint.
This RFP release isn’t the first time a county administration has floated major upgrades to the airport. After the COVID-19 pandemic, when people resumed traveling, then-County Executive George Latimer’s administration launched an initiative to re-do HPN’s comprehensive plan.
This time around, the county’s Prequalification Board met in August, and then last month the county Professional Selection Board approved the 11 firms to participate in the RFP process. The only two Westchester companies are DACK Consulting Solutions Inc., based out of White Plains, and WSP USA, Inc., based out of Valhalla. The rest – apart from Kansas City-based firm Burns & McDonnell EGS, PC – are based in New York City.
County officials plan to provide an update of the scope and timeline of the RFP process on Oct. 15.
Final proposals for the airport redesign are due in December.
