Starting Wednesday, April 15, arriving passengers at Portland International Airport should have a noticeably shorter trek to their bags. PDX is turning on its permanent north and south exit lanes, cutting out the long walk through the main terminal and dropping travelers just a few escalator rides from baggage claim. The new corridors replace the temporary stadium stair pathway and are designed to speed up everything from curbside pickups to shuttles and light rail connections.
What the new exits do
According to Port of Portland documents, the two new corridors run from the terminal’s north and south ends straight down to the arrivals level, with escalators that deliver passengers directly to baggage claim. The Port has set April 15 as the official opening date, a detail first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive. This work is the final piece of the main terminal overhaul, a roughly 2.15 billion dollar project that also brought the expanded check in lobby and other Phase 1 upgrades, as reported by Facilities Dive.
When you’ll notice the change
Local TV crews were given an early look at Phase 2 and showed how traveler flow will flip in April, with the temporary stadium stair exit closing and arriving passengers redirected through the new north and south corridors, according to KPTV. Airport staff say extra signage and on the ground personnel will be in place during the transition to steer people toward baggage claim and the various pickup areas.
Shops, meet and greet spots and pickups
Port planning documents describe a line up of local concessions and meet and greet zones opening as Phase 2 rolls out, with new south side storefronts already installed. Airport officials and local coverage note that several Portland brands have debuted this spring and that more shops will come online through the season. Rideshare pickup will continue to operate out near the rental car and long term parking area, and travelers are advised to check the airport noticeboard for the exact island and directions before arriving, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive.
How to connect to MAX, taxis and rideshare
TriMet’s MAX Red Line serves the PDX station directly adjacent to baggage claim on the lower level, so the new escalators should shave a few minutes off rail connections for many arrivals. Schedules and station details are available from TriMet. If you are planning a curbside meetup, expect a brief adjustment period as drivers and passengers get used to the new patterns. It is worth building in a few extra minutes during the first week while the airport and drivers settle into the updated flow…