How Is the $1.4B SMForward Program Reshaping Sacramento Intl. Airport

The SMForward capital improvement program is a multi-year effort to expand and modernize Sacramento International Airport, as the facility prepares for sustained passenger growth and evolving operational demands.

Valued at about $1.4 billion, the program brings together a series of construction projects rather than a single buildout. Work is phased across different areas of the airport to limit disruption, with major components scheduled for completion between 2026 and 2030.

Airport officials have said the program is funded through a combination of federal grants, passenger facility charges and airport-issued revenue bonds, with no direct use of local tax revenue.

Program scope and structure

SMForward focuses on both airside and landside improvements. Key elements include additional gates, expanded terminal capacity, new parking infrastructure, roadway upgrades, baggage system improvements and a consolidated rental car facility.

Rather than using a single contractor, the airport has adopted a decentralized delivery model. Individual projects are assigned separate design and construction teams, while overall coordination is handled at the program level.

Construction management and inspection services are being delivered by a joint venture between Parsons Corporation and Vanir Construction Management, with Kleinfelder providing quality assurance and materials testing.

Projects currently under construction

Terminal B pedestrian walkway

A new elevated pedestrian connection between Terminal B and Concourse B is among the most visible elements of the program.

The enclosed structure extends roughly a quarter mile and is designed to provide an alternative to the airport’s automated people mover system. The project reached its structural completion phase in 2025, and work has shifted to interior systems, including escalators and moving walkways.

Construction began in October 2024, with opening targeted for summer 2026.

The walkway is also being designed with long-term expansion in mind. Its structural configuration allows for potential connections to future concourses without requiring major reconstruction.

The general contractor is Balfour Beatty, working with DWL Architects + Planners as lead designer.

SMForward: Inside Sacramento International Airport’s $1.4 Billion Expansion Program. Garage 2

Terminal B Parking Garage 2

A second major project underway is a new six-story parking structure west of Terminal B.

The garage reached its “topping out” milestone in April 2026, marking the completion of its primary structural frame. Crews are continuing interior work, including electrical systems and finishing of parking decks.

Once complete, the structure is expected to add approximately 5,500 parking spaces. Plans also include electric vehicle charging infrastructure on each level and provisions for future rooftop solar installation.

The project is scheduled to open in late 2026.

The design-build contractor is Otto Construction, with International Parking Design leading architectural and engineering work. Electrical systems are being installed by Helix Electric.

Projects scheduled to begin

Concourse B expansion

The Concourse B expansion is expected to begin construction in mid-2026 following completion of procurement.

The project will add six aircraft gates, increasing the concourse total from 19 to 25, along with expanded ticketing areas and additional operational space.

Completion is projected for early 2029.

Terminal A exit roadway

Improvements to the Terminal A roadway system are scheduled to start in mid-2026.

The work will reconfigure traffic circulation to reduce congestion, particularly for shuttle services and passenger pick-up and drop-off areas. Completion is expected in late 2027.

Consolidated Rental Car Center (ConRAC)

A consolidated rental car facility is planned as a longer-term component of SMForward.

The project entered its procurement phase in April 2026 following an industry outreach event hosted by the airport. It is being delivered under a progressive design-build model, with the primary contractor yet to be selected.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2027, with completion targeted for 2030. Once operational, the facility will centralize rental car operations near the terminals and eliminate the need for shuttle buses.

Timeline and milestones

The SMForward program is structured around staggered milestones across its component projects.

October 2024: Groundbreaking for pedestrian walkway and parking garage
Summer 2025: Structural completion of pedestrian walkway
April 2026: Parking garage reaches topping-out milestone
Summer 2026: Opening of pedestrian walkway (expected)
Late 2026: Opening of parking garage (expected)
Mid-2026: Start of Concourse B expansion and roadway improvements
2027: Completion of Terminal A roadway project
2029: Completion of Concourse B expansion
2030: Completion of consolidated rental car facility

Financing approach

The airport has financed SMForward through a mix of federal support and capital markets.

Bond issuances totaling hundreds of millions of dollars have been used to fund early and mid-phase construction. In addition, the pedestrian walkway project received a $36.1 million loan through the federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, administered by the Build America Bureau.

According to federal officials, this represents the first application of TIFIA financing to a general airport project in the United States.

Workforce and contracting

The program operates under a Community Workforce Training Agreement, which sets requirements for labor participation and workforce development.

The agreement requires contractors to work with union labor, support apprenticeship programs and prioritize local hiring. Airport officials have reported that early construction phases have already generated significant union labor hours.

SMForward also involves a range of subcontractors and specialty firms across engineering, electrical systems, structural work and materials testing.

Public art integration

Public art is being incorporated into several SMForward projects, with funding allocated across multiple phases.

Installations are planned within the pedestrian walkway as well as in future terminal and parking structures. The artwork is being integrated into architectural elements rather than treated as standalone additions.

Long-term outlook

SMForward is intended to expand capacity and improve passenger flow while maintaining airport operations during construction.

In addition to addressing current demand, several elements of the program are designed to accommodate future growth. These include structural provisions for additional concourses and infrastructure upgrades that can be expanded over time.

Once completed, the program will reshape both the landside and airside layout of Sacramento International Airport, with changes affecting parking, terminal access, gate capacity and ground transportation.

The full buildout is expected to continue through the end of the decade.

The SMForward program is part of a wider wave of airport upgrades across California, where major hubs are advancing expansion projects to address long-term passenger growth. At San Diego International Airport, for example, new renderings have been released for the Terminal 1 Phase 1B expansion, reflecting similar efforts to modernize terminal capacity and passenger facilities.

SMForward Program — Quick Facts

Location: Sacramento International Airport
Program Name: SMForward
Total Investment: ~$1.4 billion
Delivery Period: 2024 – 2030
Funding Sources: Federal grants, passenger facility charges (PFCs), airport revenue bonds
Local Taxpayer Funding: None

Core Projects

Terminal B Elevated Pedestrian Walkway
- Connects Terminal B to Concourse B
- Opening: Summer 2026
Terminal B Parking Garage 2
- 5,500 new parking spaces
- Opening: Late 2026
Concourse B Expansion
- +6 new gates (19 → 25 total)
- Completion: Early 2029
Terminal A Exit Roadway Improvements
- Traffic flow and access upgrades
- Completion: Late 2027
Consolidated Rental Car Center (ConRAC)
- Centralized rental facility, eliminates shuttles
- Completion: 2030

Key Milestones

Groundbreaking (walkway & garage): October 2024
Walkway structural completion: 2025
Parking garage topping out: April 2026
Major openings begin: 2026

Delivery & Partners

Program Management: Parsons Corporation + Vanir Construction Management (JV)
Quality Assurance: Kleinfelder
Major Contractors include: Balfour Beatty, Otto Construction

Workforce & Economic Impact

Operates under Community Workforce Training Agreement (CWTA)
Requires union labor and local hiring participation
Early phases: 150,000 labor hours generated

Financing Highlights

Multiple bond issuances totaling hundreds of millions
$36.1M TIFIA loan via Build America Bureau (first for a U.S. airport project of this type)

Additional Features

EV charging infrastructure in new parking facilities
Future-ready design for expansion (including potential new concourses)
$3.75M public art program integrated into infrastructure

Construction Review

How Is the $1.4B SMForward Program Reshaping Sacramento International Airport?