The completion of the new, $210 million transportation center at Bradley International Airport was marked with a ceremony Thursday. It will open to the public July 13. (Douglas Hook)

Windsor Locks — Bradley International Airport soon will mark the end of time-wasting shuttle bus rides for travelers picking up rental cars, a significant milestone celebrated Thursday with the completion of the airport’s $210 million ground transportation center.

All the airport’s rental car companies — now scattered in and around Bradley — will be consolidated in two weeks at the transportation center, connected to the terminal by a skywalk.

One of three levels at Bradley International Airport's $210 million transportation that will bring together all car rentals and connect them to the airport's terminal. (Douglas Hook)

At a ceremony in the space Thursday and attended by dozens, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said the airport forms a potent first impression both for leisure and business travelers. The ease of securing a rental car is so crucial, it can play a role in a company’s decision to locate in Connecticut and the Hartford area, Murphy said.

“This is going to pay immediate dividends when it comes to marketing the state, when it comes to the governor’s efforts to bring new companies to this state,” Murphy said, “as well as providing a much better experience for families coming to visit loved ones here, and Connecticut residents as well.”

From left, Gov. Ned Lamont, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Christopher S. Murphy, Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin A. Dillon, Auhtority Board Chair Thomas A. (Tony) Sheridan and Stephen Blum senior vice president of real estate and facilities at Hertz attend Thursday's the ribbon-cutting of the $210 million transportation center at Bradley International Airport. (Douglas Hook)

Gov. Ned Lamont hailed the massive structure for the time it will save travelers and build on the addition of multiple nonstop destinations at Bradley since the start of the pandemic.

“Speed matters,” Lamont said. “It makes a big difference, and what an incredible introduction this is.”

Construction on the transportation center began three years ago, and work continued through the pandemic.

After a groundbreaking ceremony at Bradley International Airport in July, 2019 Connecticut Airport Authority personnel roll up a backdrop depicting the $210 million Ground Transportation Center to be built in the area behind them. (Mark Mirko / Hartford Courant)

The project was financed by the sale of bonds by the Connecticut Airport Authority, the quasi-public agency that operates Bradley. But the debt will be paid off by user fees collected by the car rental companies, which include Hertz, Enterprise, Avis and Budget.

The user fees are $8.40 a day, the authority said.

Kevin A. Dillon, the authority’s executive director, said the transportation center will contribute to major environmental benefits, eliminating a quarter million bus trips each year.

“And the rental car [companies] will be making a significant investment in electric charging stations so they can ultimately convert their fleet to electric,” Dillon said. “Another plus.”

Dillon said he also foresees redevelopment potential in the next few years for land on Schoephoester Road where many of the car rental companies now have their lots.

Here are seven things to know about the new transportation center:

The new transportation center makes an imposing statement for travelers arriving from I-91. (Douglas Hook)

The new, transportation center is bigger than Westfarms mall. (Douglas Hook)

The transportation center is 1.4 million square feet, almost 200,000 square feet larger than Westfarms mall on the West Hartford/Farmington line.

A skywalk connects the terminal to the transportation center. (Douglas Hook)

A skywalk connects the terminal to the transportation center. The skywalk leads to the third level of the transportation center, where Enterprise, National and Alamo are located. The level above hosts Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty; the floor below Avis, Budget and Payless.

Each rental car level at Brandley's new transportation center will initially have some electric vehicle charging stations, with plans calling for more in the future, airport officials said. (Douglas Hook)

Up to 2,300. Each level has vacuuming and car washing stations that can turnaround returned rentals in 15 to 20 minutes, according to Bob Bruno, the authority’s director of engineering.

Two helix-shaped ramps will be used to exit and enter Bradley's transportation center with rental cars. (Douglas Hook)

A ramp in the shape of a helix on the western side of center leads to a highway entrance that eventually leads to I-91. A second helix on the eastern side is for the return of the rentals.

Bradley's transportation center will add 850 parking spaces, some of it in the lot shown here. (Douglas Hook)

Yes. There are 850 spaces divided between the ground level of the transportation center and an adjacent covered lot.

The daily rate is $25 for the “covered” parking and the rate for the lot has not yet been determined, the authority said.

The authority now operates about 8,000 parking spaces at the airport, with 3,500 in the existing garage. The spaces in the transportation center — representing a 10% increase — will be used if the garage — connected by a short access road to the transportation center — is filled, Bruno said.

The new, $210 million transportation center at Bradley International Airport had its first unveiling Thursday. It is due to officially open July 13. (Douglas Hook)

The transportation center will eventually house bus arrivals and departures, providing connections to trains. A final timetable has not be determined.

It is hoped that the transportation center also will have a direct connection in the future to a light rail spur of the Hartford Line.

Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com