Trump touts $22.5B overhaul of Dulles airport with massive parking garage, removal of Star Wars people movers
WASHINGTON – President Trump announced a $22.5 billion overhaul of Dulles International Airport, including the removal of the “Star Wars” like people movers and adding a massive parking garage.“It’s time to ensure that the United States has the greatest airports anywhere in the world.And we’re starting right here with the capital city,” Trump said.“We’re unveiling exciting plans for a major and long overdue renovation and reconstruction of Washington’s really horribly thought of Dulles International Airport.”Trump has long disparaged the dated airport that sits about 20 miles outside of Washington D.C., particularly railing against the airport’s shuttles, nicknamed “people movers.”The president has never been a fan of the movers, which are used to transport people between terminals.“Between the trams and the Star Wars thing.
They call it the Star Wars.And elevated buses.
Nobody knows what’s going on,” he said.Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy first used the “Star Wars” descriptor. They look “like it’s from Star Wars, if you will, and they’re slow and people are angry about them.” Duffy of the people movers.He said the current airport “is dark, it is dated, a little dank maybe.”It was built over a three-year period between 1959 and 1962.Trump was personally involved in the redesign.
He showed off renderings of the new airport in the Oval Office on Wednesday, using a laser pointer to highlight various aspects of the project, and construction blueprints covered the Resolute Desk.“This is exciting to me as a builder,” he noted.The plans include five new terminals to replace the four existing ones; an underground tunnel to allow people to walk between terminals; more moving sidewalks; and a 32,000-space parking garage. “We’re building a massive nine-story, eight-story, 10-story.We’re not sure yet – but we’re building a garage, that is a parking garage that will be right next to the terminal,’ Trump...