SFO's international expansion is aimed at handling major growth in Pacific Rim travel in the decade ahead and is expected to ease vehicular traffic around the terminals. Shuttle travelers also can expect a calmer, less-crowded scene once the old international terminal is converted to handle domestic flights. Space for ticket counters, restaurants and retail uses will double, and baggage-handling capacity is to triple. The station will complete an 8.7-mile extension of the BART system, and once it's open, travel time from downtown San Francisco to the airport is pegged at 29 minutes. The current international terminal, which ceases service in September, will be converted and reopened as a new domestic terminal in October 2002, not to replace the current north and south terminals but to join them.
Any major action lies well in the future.
Airport officials in July will collect proposals from five engineering companies for offshore runway construction. The range of building possibilities runs from landfill projects to pile-supported tarmacs to floating structures. Christopher Reynolds welcomes comments and suggestions, but cannot respond individually to letters and calls.