Capital Region International Airport is scheduled to hold a public open house Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in its Friendship Room to present its first master plan update since 2006.

Airport leaders plan to present their preferred development plan and answer questions about the airport’s next 20 years, according to the airport’s public announcement.

The update includes possible changes to the terminal building, WKAR reported.

Work on the update began in 2023. The Capital Region Airport Authority, led by President and CEO Nicole Noll-Williams, anticipates completing it in fall 2026, according to the airport’s master plan page.

Terminal redesign on the table

WKAR lead politics reporter Andrew Roth reported that the terminal expanded over time to meet operational needs, but some additions are now underused. Roth described the resulting terminal as oversized or inefficiently arranged.

Airport leaders have developed proposals for alternative terminal layouts, WKAR reported.

$12.5 million road project underway

The authority also has launched a $12.5 million reconstruction of airport roadways.

Construction is scheduled in five phases from July 2026 through August 2027. The work will upgrade portions of Port Lansing Road and Capital City Boulevard to all-season Class A standards, with changes to road layouts, storm sewer replacements and upgraded signage.

A pedestrian walkway will connect Grand River Avenue to the terminal, with benches and landscaping, according to the airport’s July announcement. The airport said the path would improve access for employees, visitors and people using public transportation.

How to weigh in

Residents can submit comments through the airport’s master plan page.

The update receives funding through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. Engineering and planning follow FAA and Michigan Department of Transportation guidelines.

Projects identified in the plan would still require funding and individual environmental review before implementation, according to the airport’s master plan FAQ.