Owner: Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
Location: Tampa, Florida
Program Value: Multi-project capital program with individual projects ranging from <$1M to over $140M
Facility Type: General Aviation Support / Capital Planning
APR Services: Aviation Cost Estimating, Analytics and Controls

The CIP Development – FY 2027–2029 program supported Hillsborough County Aviation Authority in developing a large-scale, multi-year capital improvement program across Tampa International Airport (TPA) and its system of general aviation facilities.

The program included a diverse portfolio of infrastructure and facility projects organized across key categories, including airside improvements, terminal and facility upgrades, baggage and operational equipment, fire and life safety systems, and general aviation infrastructure enhancements.

Major program elements included:

  • Airfield infrastructure rehabilitation, including large-scale ramp and taxiway improvements involving hundreds of thousands of square yards of pavement repair and crack remediation
  • Terminal and baggage system upgrades, including building expansions and equipment replacement programs
  • Cargo facility expansion, including development of a 105,000 SF belly cargo facility with integrated apron and utilities
  • General aviation facility rehabilitation, including hangars and support buildings across multiple airport locations
  • Landside and support infrastructure improvements, including roadway upgrades and critical systems replacements

Individual project costs ranged from less than $1 million to over $140 million, reflecting a comprehensive capital program supporting both operational continuity and long-term growth.

The CIP was developed using order-of-magnitude (AACE Class 5) cost estimates, providing a structured financial foundation for program prioritization, budgeting, and future design development.

The CIP development process also required alignment of projects with anticipated funding availability and implementation constraints, including coordination with ongoing airport operations and multi-phase construction sequencing. As a major commercial service airport, Tampa International requires infrastructure improvements to be planned and phased to minimize operational disruption while maintaining capacity and safety. The program therefore integrates cost, schedule, and constructability considerations into a cohesive capital investment strategy.

APR supported the planning team and HCAA by providing program-level estimating, cost modeling, and validation services across the CIP portfolio.

APR developed AACE Class 5 planning-level estimates based on early-stage planning documents, utilizing a combination of:

  • Historical cost data and benchmarking
  • RSMeans reference data
  • Productivity-adjusted unit pricing
  • Quantity-based and parametric estimating methods

Estimates were structured in CSI format and incorporated:

  • Escalation from a 2025 cost basis through 2029 (up to ~24% cumulative)
  • Design evolution allowances (20–30%)
  • Construction contingency (10–15%)
  • Soft costs including design and construction management

APR also supported program-level cost alignment and prioritization, enabling evaluation of project timing, funding strategies, and implementation sequencing across a multi-year horizon.

Through this effort, APR transformed conceptual planning data into defensible, decision-ready cost information supporting capital planning and program development.

APR’s role extended beyond individual project estimating to include normalization of cost data across multiple asset classes, enabling direct comparison of airfield, facility, and systems projects within a single capital planning framework. This allowed stakeholders to evaluate tradeoffs between competing investments using consistent cost metrics.

  • Supported development of a large-scale, multi-year airport CIP program
  • Delivered estimates for projects ranging from <$1M to $140M+
  • Normalized cost data across airfield, facilities, and systems projects to support direct comparison and prioritization
  • Supported alignment of cost, phasing, and constructability considerations within the CIP framework
  • Applied AACE Class 5 estimating methodologies for early-stage planning
  • Incorporated escalation up to ~24% across planning horizon (2025–2029)
  • Utilized historical cost data, RSMeans, and productivity adjustments
  • Structured estimates in CSI format with full cost breakdowns
  • Enabled program prioritization, budgeting, and funding strategy development

Tampa International Capital Improvement Plan
Image Credit: Tampa International Airport

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