SFGate had an interesting article from a few days ago about some exchanges between city and airport leaders at the city's Budget and Finance Committee meeting. SFO leaders are asking for more money for the project because they say they want to keep matching or exceeding the standards from the previous terminal renovations. The scope has increased quite a bit since the initial project plans, as the airport wants to build the F/G connector building with lounge space now rather than later. The new curbside facade for the terminal has also added quite a bit of cost. The committee approved the budget increases in the end.
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/articl...I7enOFJ_O20nSQ
SFO officials requested approval for an extension and increase of at least $76 million to a crucial contract, but the extra charge is only a drop in the bucket. As outlined during the meeting, the cost for redeveloping Terminal 3 has more than quadrupled over the past eight years.
“And so basically the project was $627 million in 2017, but to date, it has increased to $2.8 billion,” Supervisor Connie Chan said during the meeting.
The billion dollar total is a result of a few major factors. Not only have labor and construction costs risen from pre-pandemic rates, but the success and adoration for Harvey Milk Terminal 1 played a role, too.
“A lot of it is about guest experience,” airport spokesperson Doug Yakel told SFGATE on Thursday. “Every time we complete a terminal, it becomes a bar that other terminals are held to. You want to top what you’ve recently done.”