Efforts to eliminate congestion and enhance security at the airport has been in place for almost three months.
“Sometimes the lines would get backed up around the curb,” said Director of Aviation, Kelly Campbell.
A mindset to wait in front of the terminal for pick ups and drop offs increased risks at Lubbock International Airport,
according to Campbell.
“It has definitely been a change for folks," she said.
"Unfortunately we did have a culture where people would pull up and in their minds the flight was
supposed to land in five minutes.”
A cellphone parking lot was created to keep those waiting out of the way until their passenger has
made it curbside.
“The cellphone waiting area -- that's common, lots of airports have done that,” Campbell said.
"We saw an opportunity with an area that we have that's really nice, really nice trees and where we
could do it with very limited funds, that with 30 minute waiting lot."
“It's a great concept and real pretty compared to Denver's awesome metroplex of an airport,” said Denver resident, Camron Baum.
“I like the cellphone parking lot as far as waiting for her to call me whenever she gets here,” Plainview resident, Cindy Jennings said.
Some residents, though,are not impressed. One woman asking, 'What about the people that do not have cell phones?'
For those there is free parking for 30 minutes in the short term lot directly across from the terminal.
Others are apprehensive of the cellphone lot for different reasons.
“As a woman, I wouldn't want to come here and sit at nighttime by myself,” Jennings added.
Campbell says there's still work to be done.
"If we're going to keep it there then long term we need to do some work on that road and look at some more permanent lighting. those are things we'll tweak," Campbell said.
Making a drop off or pick up has to be done quickly a rule that was always in place just not always enforced.
"We've always had signage at the terminal drive that says no waiting. We've always encouraged people no waiting at the drop off or pick up but without the enforcement all the time we really saw some safety issues and security issues," Campbell said.
Following six weeks of enforcement from LPD the airport now has attendants to move vehicles on their way.
“I think they're great, makes it more convenient for pick ups, less congestion and traffic when you're waiting trying to pick up people from the airport,” said Levi Ham, a Lubbock visitor.
Now taxi providers are more accessible to passengers.
“We had an antiquated system for taxi and town car service,” Campbell said. “It was a system where they park in an offsite location.”
"I think it's great to the cab industry because we can park just right outside the door where people can actually walk out and see us," said taxi driver, Gary Dorsey.
These changes cost about $4,100 to implement, not including the attendant's salaries, according to Campbell.
