OVERHEAD LIGHTS ALONG ROWS IN THE NEW TERMINAL GARAGE AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TELL DRIVERS WHAT SPACES ARE OPEN. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Have you ever parked in a “smart garage?”

You’ll have that chance on Tuesday, Nov. 18, when the new $1.7 billion terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport opens — or the next time you’re flying out of the airport or parking there to meet a relative, friend or business colleague.

Passengers also will have a variety of other new parking options at various price points, said Joe Rotterdam, director of commercial development for the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which oversees the airport.

“Our new parking program ultimately provides our passengers a faster, easier parking experience with the latest technology for Pittsburgh International Airport,” he said during a media tour on Thursday.

THE LAYOUT OF THE NEW PARKING LOTS AT THE NEW TERMINAL AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT | COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Terminal Garage

The entrance to PIT is the same as it is now off of Interstate 376. If you’re interested to checking out the new garage, just follow  the overhead signs.

This five-story facility, which is next to the front of the terminal, has 3,300 public spaces — double the amount of covered parking compared with the current terminal — on floors 2 through 5. It offers state-of-the-art “space-finding” technology by using overhead sensors with digital wayfinding to direct drivers to open spots in real time.

It works like this: You drive directly onto the second floor of the garage (the first floor is for rental cars). As you enter, you’ll see a sign that tells you how filled up each floor is. For example, if the second and third floors are full, you’d want to head directly to the fourth or fifth floors.

LIGHTED NUMBER SIGNS AT THE END OF EACH ROW IN THE TERMINAL GARAGE TELLS YOU HOW MANY OPEN SPACES ARE IN THAT ROW. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Once inside, there are signs at the end of each row that tells you how many open spaces are in that row. As you approach that row, you will see a line of overhead lights. Green lights over a space means the space is open. A blue light indicates an open handicapped space. If there is no light over a space, that means it’s filled.

“The wayfinding was designed to be intuitive for our passengers to make sure we have an easy experience,” Rotterdam said. “That proximity to the terminal allows passengers to proceed into that terminal building in less than 5 minutes.”

Each floor has charging stations — 33 total in the garage. Each floor also is named and color coded for easy memory. The second floor is Robotics Row (purple); third: Steel City (gray); fourth: City of Bridges (blue); fifth: City of Champions (gold).

If you’re parked on the top floor (Level 5), the garage is equipped with eco-friendly snow-melt technology to keep the area clear and open throughout winter.

FOLKS WHO PARK IN THE TERMINAL GARAGE WILL WALK THROUG THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BUILDING, LINED WITH RENTAL COMPANY CAR DESKS AND KIOSKS, TO GET TO THE TERMINAL. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

From the garage, you would walk through the Customer Service Building, which houses all the rental car company desks and kiosks. From that building, you would cross into the bottom floor of the terminal, where all the ride share, taxis, buses would pick up and drop off. Then you’d head up to the top floor of the terminal for ticketing and security lanes.

Terminal Lot

Another parking option is the 2,800-space surface lot next to the terminal called the Terminal Lot. There is no wayfinding technology here, but it is an easy walk from here into the terminal. It also has 50 accessible spaces for those with mobility issues or disabilities.

To receive the cheapest parking rates on airport property, book in advance at PARKatPIT.com. You can start booking your reservations starting on Friday, Nov. 14.

The rates for the garage start at $30 a day if you book in advance; $35 a day if you just drive up. For the Terminal Lot, they are $19 a day if you book in advance, or $25 a day if you drive up. There are also hourly rates at these two parking areas.

Shuttle Lot

All of the three legacy lots — Long Term, Extended and Economy — are now known as the Shuttle Lot. There is no sidewalk to walk to the terminal from this lot; you must take the shuttle.

EIGHT, 35-SEAT SHUTTLE BUSES WILL SERVE THE SHUTTLE LOT. THEY HAVE ‘KNEELING’ CAPABILITIES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES OR HEAVY LUGGAGE TO BOARD. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

The shuttle program has been overhauled to improve service. Eight new, 35-passenger buses have been purchased that will triple the previous capacity. Each of these new buses will have what’s known as a “kneeling” capability to provide easy entry for people managing wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, luggage and other mobility aids.

There is more seating in each bus, as well as two digital displays that will show real-time travel information. These buses run on compressed natural gas instead of gasoline or diesel fuel.

THERE ARE FIVE LIGHTED, HEATED BUS SHELTERS IN THE SHUTTLE LOT. EACH HAS DIGITAL SCREENS THAT TELL TRAVELERS WHEN THE NEXT SHUTTLE WILL ARRIVE. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

There are now five, new heated, lighted shelters in the Shuttle Lot. Again, there will be digital screens in each shelter to keep travelers up to date with travel information. There also will be live tracking so travelers can follow when the shuttle will arrive, as well as a call button if you need assistance.

Once you’re picked up at the shelter, there’s a less than 10-minute ride to the new terminal, Rotterdam said. Passengers will be dropped off on the top floor at departures.

The rates for this lot are $8 a day if booked in advance and $12 a day if you drive up.

When you are returning to your car after your trip, you go down to the baggage claim level. The shuttles will pull up at Door 5.

Once the new terminal opens, the current landside terminal will close.

But the moving sidewalk, which now stretches from the end of Long Term Parking to the terminal entrance, will continue for a while until all vehicles are removed from the Short Term Lot. It also will continue indefinitely from the parking lot up to the entrance of the Hyatt Hotel to provide access there.

Free Wait Lot

As you enter the airport property from I-376, you will see a sign for the Free Wait Lot. This is where you can park for free for an hour if you’re waiting to pick up someone from their flight. This eliminates the illegal and dangerous parking that has taken place along the side of the entrance road to the terminal.

Day One – Tuesday, Nov. 18

On opening day, the airport authority will be posting extra personnel (wearing highly visible purple vests) in the parking areas and terminal to provide assistance.

Also, for passengers who have left the city before opening day and have their cars parked in the current Short Term or Long Term or Shuttle Lots, you will have to take a shuttle back to your car. The moving sidewalk will be working if you need to get back to Short Term or Long Term parking.

All details about the parking options, hourly and daily parking rates and all other information can be found at PARKatPIT.com.