Sacramento airport cleared for construction of new terminal

The Sacramento County Airport System has been issued federal environmental documents that clear the way for construction to start this fall on the proposed $1.3 billion terminal modernization project at Sacramento International Airport.

The project would replace the airport's almost 40-year-old Terminal B to meet the rising demand for passenger services and improve the airport's ability to attract new carriers and routes. The plan would add 680,000 square feet of buildings to the airport, along with parking and a hotel.

The airport has been issued documents -- a Finding of No Significant Impact and a Record of Decision -- that indicate the project would have no significant impact on the existing environment.

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"Sacramento County is extremely pleased to learn that another significant action has been taken to clear the way for construction to begin on the modernization of our international airport," Sacramento County Board of Supervisors chairman Jimmie Yee said in a news release. "The extensive and exciting improvements planned for the airport are critical to meeting the needs of our region's growing population and economy."

To date, the airport has sold $586 million in airport revenue bonds to finance the first phase of the terminal project.

"Such early success in the bond market is a critical step in funding this program," said Hardy Acree, Sacramento County Airport System Director of Airports.