Minorities help make it happen
Of the St. Louis American
Kevin Dolliole, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport director, was hired by Mayor Francis G. Slay last year as the city’s highest-paid employee to make sure he would be a part of the airport’s future.
While others may still debate the past concerning the $1.1 billion runway expansion at the airport, Dolliole says it will pay off in future years.
“The benefits will last decades,” Dolliole said last week before the first flight to land on the new runway touched down.
Those benefits include building the runway for less than it would cost in the future, an increased capability of handling 63 percent more airplanes during bad weather and 34 percent more on a clear day.
While departures and arrivals plummeted in the wake of the merger of TWA and American Airlines, American’s decision to cut flights and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks, Lambert is making a meager comeback.
After a decade of passenger traffic decline, 2005 marked the first increase – 10 percent – to 7.5 million. About 13 million passengers traveled through Lambert in 1995.
As air traffic continues to grow at Lambert, the dual airstrips will become more than a convenience – they will be vital.
“Previously, our two major parallel runways were too close together to allow simultaneous aircraft arrivals in inclement weather,” Dolliole said.
Slay called the new runway “critical to continuing the region’s economic momentum as an airport that is efficient, so the airlines can serve our growing demand for air service.
The airport project also offered a boom for several minority-owned companies, including the Kwame Building Group, which was part of the project’s SPK Joint Venture management team, Mosley Construction and Sharks and Sharks.
The Expansion Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Inclusion Program was designed to provide opportunities that encourage and facilitate the growth and development of DBE firms. Its primary purpose is to increase awareness of contracting opportunities.
In addition, the city of St. Louis Mentor-Protégé Pilot Program was created to help firms win contracts for new runway paving and lighting, access roads and perimeter security.
The efforts paid off with more than $400 million in contracts going to minority-owned firms.
Expansion inside too
Not only is the airport’s infrastructure now larger, the terminals are becoming more active, as well.
In late March, Lambert’s C-Concourse saw the additions of Brighton Collectibles, a women’s accessory shop; Anheuser-Busch Apparel And Gifts, a specialty gift shop featuring A-B logo’d merchandise; and Experience St. Louis, a shop featuring St. Louis-oriented items.
The three shops are connected and are located across from Gate C-8.
“We are pleased to announce the opening of these new shops,” said Dolliole.
“Lambert continues to provide our passengers new sources to shop while they are waiting for their flights. Passengers have often requested to have more of a St. Louis presence at Lambert and to provide them with quality merchandise. Lambert is pleased to partner with our Master Concessionaire, Paradies II, Arch Inc. to provide just that.”
“The Paradies Shops share Director Dolliole’s vision in celebrating the city of St. Louis at the airport,” said Gregg Paradies, president and CEO.
Said Dolliole: “We look forward to many new and exciting things to come to St. Louis.”
