CLEARWATER, Fla. — The newly appointed St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport director, Mark Sprague, will oversee the biggest infrastructure projects in PIE’s history which total more than $170 million.
What You Need To Know
Mark Sprague was appointed St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport Director last week
Sprague has been working at PIE since 2015 and began his tenure as deputy director
He will oversee construction of a new $60M parking garage, which will open in spring 2028
The director has been planning a more than $110 million renovation and new terminal building too
“We have some inefficiencies that we need to take care of an aging infrastructure,” he said. “We’re going to renovate. We are going to build a small portion elevated, which will have some jet bridges.”
Sprague began his tenure at the airport in 2015 as the deputy director, then became the interim director last year and was appointed director last week by Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton.
“Mark melds diverse work experience in the pilot seat, the board room and the community to keep our airport operations safe, efficient and productive,” Burton said. “His expertise in operational analytics, emergency response, FAA and TSA compliance, and stakeholder engagement positions him to lead PIE into its next phase of growth and service excellence.”
Tom Jewsbury was the previous airport director who officially retired last October but left the job a couple of months earlier in August. PIE Public Relations Director Michele Routh said she watched Sprague pull double duty since that time working long hours to earn his new title.
Mark Sprague has been working at PIE since 2015 and began his tenure as deputy director. (Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)
“He’s a go getter. A resilient guy. Very positive,” she said. “He just did a tremendous job and he earned his way into this position.”
Sprague’s career in aviation spans 25 years, including flying as a pilot for both Comair and Spirit airlines. He later worked in airport operations at both Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International airports, according to Routh.
The airport director said he plans to implement what he calls a “vision with a purpose.”
“There needs to be a little bit more of a definitive vision,” said Sprague.
Sprague said the future expansion of PIE depends on getting its first ever parking garage built, which will cost $60 million, for the increasingly popular airport. Construction is expected to begin early next year, with a completion date of spring 2028.
“Right now we desperately need parking,” he said. “Our parking garage is coming. So that will be a joy when the comes on.”
Renovations to the old terminal and a new terminal building are still in the early stages of design and will cost more than $110 million, according to Sprague.
Rendering of the proposed new parking garage at PIE
“We went from an expansion (to) more of a renovation,” he said. “We’re taking a look at the current terminal. We’re looking at how to extend its useful life … do a modernization.”
Sprague said the airport is debt free and that the projects will be funded with money in reserves, which played a role in Kayak recently naming PIE the second most affordable airport in the nation behind Orlando Sanford International Airport.
“We are very fortunate that we are a debt-free airport. Those savings 100 percent go down to our customers,” he said. “By keeping our costs low, the airlines can keep their costs low.”
Sprague said March has been busy for the airport with spring break, which is on track to break another passenger record for the 14th consecutive month.