RDU to Open New Parking Garage Just in Time for the Holidays

RDU Airport, NC – Motorists arriving at Raleigh-Durham International Airport will receive an early holiday present next month when the airport opens 6,100 new parking spaces. The new garage will open during the week leading up to Thanksgiving -- the busiest travel period of the year.

A passenger survey conducted in the early 1990s revealed that motorists wanted more parking closer to the airport's two terminals. The new garage will bring to 11,000 the total number of parking spaces located within walking distance of the terminals.

In addition to the new parking spaces, RDU will also introduce Exit Express, an automated payment program. Using Exit Express, motorists will pay for parking before returning to their cars, decreasing the amount of time it takes to pay and exit the garage. The easy-to-use program is similar to kiosks featured at most airline ticket counters. To pay with Exit Express, motorists insert their parking ticket; the automated screen then guides them through the payment process.

An animation illustrating how to use Exit Express is featured at www.rdu.com.

RDU's newest parking garage was originally scheduled to open in November 2004. In December 2001, the Airport Authority voted to accelerate the project. With a temporary decrease in airline passenger traffic, the Authority was able to open the garage one year earlier and in one phase, eliminating the need for temporary roadways.

The garage will now open before the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which kicks off the week of November 24. Wednesday, November 26 will be the busiest travel day of the year.

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