You can't Uber to the front door of Nashville International Airport anymore: What's changing
Some passengers have complained about having to walk 10 minutes or less to the Ground Transportation Center for rideshare pickup at Nashville International Airport. Now, they'll be dropped off there too— if taking an Uber or Lyft.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. on June 3, rideshare drivers will not be allowed to drop passengers off curbside at the BNA terminal entrance. Instead, they will head to the Ground Transportation Center.
From there, travelers will follow the sidewalk to the right and cross the street to reach Terminal One. They can take the escalator, elevator or stairs up to the lobby where airline check-in counters and security lines are located.
The Ground Transportation Center is on the bottom level of BNA's Garage Two.
"Travelers utilizing ride-share services to BNA are encouraged to take this brief walk into consideration when making plans for when their ride-share driver will pick them up and take them to BNA," airport spokesperson Erin Thomas said in a statement.
Nashville International Airport said in the May 29 announcement that centralizing rideshare activity will improve efficiency, streamline traffic flow through the main terminal roadway and help rideshare drivers "maximize their earning potential."
"These upgrades play a vital role in BNA's broader long-term infrastructure plan, designed to enhance airport accessibility, efficiency and overall traveler experience," a statement from the airport said.
This adjustment comes amid the airport's multi-billion-dollar expansion that has been ongoing for the last eight years. The total renovation costs since 2017 amount to $4.49 billion, including the ongoing Concourse D extension, another parking garage and road improvements.
Friends and family dropping travelers off at the airport will continue to be allowed curbside drop-off at Terminal One, and the airport says to expect less curbside congestion once the change takes effect.
The Ground Transportation Center drop-off zone is only for rideshare drivers and riders.
The Nashville International Airport asserts that rideshare drivers will be able to maximize earnings under the new rule. Instead of dropping off a rider, circling out of the airport and then back in to the Ground Transportation Center for a pick-up, drivers can simply stay in one place.
Airport officials expect that this will decrease the wait time for rideshare pick-up from BNA.
Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville airport gets rid of front-door rideshare drop-off: Here's why
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