Rapid City Airport Finances Car Wash for Rental Cars
South Dakota’s Rapid City Regional Airport agrees to finance a $2.9 million car wash and refueling station for airport car rental agencies.
The Rapid City Journal reported that South Dakota’s Rapid City Regional Airport has agreed to finance a $2.9 million car wash and refueling station for its car rental agencies under contract, which include Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Avis, Alamo and National.
According to airport officials, customer-facility charges will be collected by these rental agencies to repay the airport for this project.
Airport Director Cameron Humphres said that this consolidated facility will allow the airport to tear down the rental companies’ separate wash bays, and that land can be used for taxiways and aircraft parking ramps, according to the Rapid City Journal. The new car wash facility would be located at the airport’s rental car ready-return lot.
“Quick turnaround facilities: There are numerous airports around the country that have quick turnaround facilities, and they’re becoming more and more prevalent,” Humphres told the Rapid City Journal.
In addition, Humphres said that the new facility could save up to 80 percent on water with its water-recycling system, according to the Rapid City Journal.
Click here for the full Rapid City Journal story: http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/airport-to-build-million-car-wash-for-rental-cars/article_9397029b-d4c0-5c67-8065-646eb87a2903.html
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