Denver Greenlights $150 Million Rental Car Hub at DIA to Cut Traffic and Emissions
The Denver City Council has approved a $150 million contract to build a centralized rental car facility at Denver International Airport (DEN), one of the few major U.S. airports still lacking such a hub. Known as the Consolidated Rental Car Facility (ConRAC), the new structure will house rental car operations and integrate a Common Transportation System (CTS) to shuttle passengers efficiently between terminals and the rental hub.
The 10-year contract has been awarded to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., which will oversee construction of ready and return areas for vehicles, a multi-level storage garage, a customer service building, and maintenance areas. The CTS will include dedicated guideways, electric-ready shuttles, and stations at both the ConRAC site and Jeppesen Terminal. Once operational, the facility is expected to eliminate 250,000 shuttle trips annually, easing terminal congestion and significantly reducing emissions.
DEN currently serves 82,000 passengers each year and generates around $60 million annually in sales tax revenue from rental car operations. The new ConRAC will be electric vehicle-ready and designed to evolve into a fully electric facility, aligning with DEN’s Vision 100 sustainability goals. City leaders say this investment will modernize ground transportation, enhance the passenger experience, and position DEN as a leader in eco-friendly airport infrastructure.
Jacobs has committed to allocating 25% of the project’s work to minority- and women-owned businesses. The company has a track record at DEN, previously delivering $40 million in services across 12 contracts and helping several diverse businesses establish operations in Denver.
