TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, Acting City Manager
FROM: Brian D. Martin, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
Airport Master Plan Update
Ward(s): 2
Councilor(s): Nishioka
Neighborhood(s): SEMCA, SESNA
Result Area(s): Strong and Diverse Economy
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SUMMARY:
summary
The Airport’s Master Plan Update, which began in 2022, has been paused for more than a year pending the establishment of commercial air service and direction from the City on the long-term future of the second runway and its associated taxiway.
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ISSUE:
To complete the Master Plan Update, the Airport’s planning consultants require direction from the City on the future of the airport’s second runway.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information Only
body
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Staff are seeking direction from City Council on the future of the airport’s secondary runway (Runway 16/34). Costs to rehabilitate the secondary runway are estimated to be between $10-$12 million, while the cost to fully reconstruct the runway is estimated at over $23 million. As part of the Airport Master Plan process, the Airport’s consultants are requesting direction on whether to plan for the long-term continuation of the secondary runway or to utilize that area for other airport purposes. This direction will allow the Airport’s consultant to complete the draft master plan so that a formal public involvement process can begin this spring. Once the public process is complete, a final master plan will be presented to City Council for review and approval this fall.
Runway 13/31 (Attachment 1) is the airport’s primary runway and provides greater than 95% wind coverage over a ten-year historical wind analysis. The runway was last rehabilitated in 2018 at a cost of $3.5 million.
With greater than 95% wind coverage on the primary runway, the secondary runway, which is identified as Runway 16/34, is no longer eligible for federal financial support for maintenance, rehabilitation or reconstruction. At the end of the useful life of the runway, which is anticipated to be in 2035, the cost to rehabilitate the runway is estimated at $10M-$12M, and a full reconstruct of the runway is estimated to be $23.6M. 100% of either cost will be the responsibility of the City of Salem.
Currently, maintenance of the runway is paid for out of the airport operations and maintenance budget. Ongoing annual maintenance expenses for the second runway and its associated taxiways are estimated to be $25,000, which includes airfield markings (paint), lights and signs, and pavement repair.
Runway 16/34 and the associated safety areas, runway protection zones, and taxiway system encompass approximately 100 acres of the airport.
Runway 16/34 is the preferred runway for the light general aviation aircraft given the wind favorability and its proximity to most of the hangars and businesses on the south end of the airfield.
BACKGROUND:
In 2019, the FAA pressed the airport to undertake a capital project to realign Taxiway A, which is the primary taxi route for large aircraft accessing the primary runway (RWY 13/31). The current configuration of Taxiway A does not meet FAA safety standards, particularly as it crosses the second runway (RWY 16/34).
At the time, the realignment of TWY “A” was expected to cost $10M, and would require a minimum $1M local match, which the airport was not able to provide. FAA also noted the lack of developable property on the airport to ensure long-term growth and to generate additional revenue to ensure the airport’s financial self-sufficiency. FAA requested that the airport to update its master plan to consider the cost/benefit of retaining all its existing infrastructure versus providing additional developable property and increased revenue, while reducing long-term expense.
In 2020, FAA moved the master plan funding forward from 2025 to 2022 in the airport’s Capital Improvement Program to begin the master plan update. The planning effort began in late 2022 and was subsequently paused in 2023 because of the reintroduction of commercial air service.
With a full year of commercial air service completed, FAA has approved the Aviation Forecast chapter of the Master Plan. Next steps are to determine future facility requirements to meet the forecasted demand, which includes a decision on the future of the second runway. The realignment of Taxiway A to serve that runway will also have an impact on the ability to expand the terminal and commercial aircraft parking apron to the east. In its current configuration there is no room for expansion.
John Paskell
Airport Manager
Attachments:
1. Attachment 1 - Airfield Diagram