Airport runway funding is OK’d

It’s official, the city’s cost for construction of its airport runway extension will be zero.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday announced nearly $900 million in funding for infrastructure and safety products, including more than $1.4 million for the second phase of the runway extension at Portland Municipal Airport.

The FAA funding includes about $70,000 the city would have been responsible to pay in the regular funding procedure for such projects.

“I think that’s wonderful,” said Portland Mayor John Boggs. “We can divert the money to other areas.

“But I think the important this is, as soon as that’s built, I think it’s going to have a dramatic impact on the economy of Portland.”

In 2014, a justification study showed the airport could expect about 800 additional operations (take-offs and landings) each year if the runway was extended to 5,500 feet from the current 4,000 feet. Boggs is hopeful that more owners will also rent hangar space to store their planes in Portland.

The city has expected to receive the $1,409,115 it requested for the project since Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year. (The legislation includes $608 million that is earmarked to cover state and local costs for airport projects this year.) Thursday’s announcement confirmed those expectations and guaranteed Portland will pay none of the construction cost for the work.

(Airport projects are typically 90% funded by the FAA, with 5% coming from Indiana Department of Transportation and the remaining 5% from the municipality. But funds from the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act are being used to pay for the state and local shares.)

Thanks to the federal COVID-19 relief funds, Portland saved about $190,000 in construction costs on the project. The total project — it will be completed in two phases beginning this year and ending in 2022 — is expected to come in at $3.8 million, the entirety of which will be funded by the FAA.

Other Indiana projects the FAA announced Thursday that total more than $1 million in funding are South Bend International ($13.3 million) to reconstruct its taxiway; Gary/Chicago International ($4.03 million) to rehabilitate its taxiway; Indianapolis Executive in Zionsville ($1.8 million) for a runway extension; White County ($1.3 million) for a runway extension; and Kentland Municipal ($1 million) for apron construction. Randolph County Airport in Winchester was approved for $91,376 to construct a taxi lane. In all, 16 Indiana projects were awarded funding totaling $27.7 million.

“Investing in our nation’s infrastructure is how our country helped spark an aviation industry that now supports millions of jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg in a press release. “These Airport Improvement Program grants will help modernize America’s airports and ensure that our air transportation system remains the safest and most efficient in the world.”

HIS Constructors of Indianapolis is tentatively scheduled to begin site prep for phase one of the Portland Municipal Airport project May 26 with work to start June 1. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. June 2. Phase one of the extension project includes leveling the land to the west of the current runway and enclosing 555 feet of Alexander Ditch. Construction is expected to continue into November.

The second phase of the extension involves paving and lighting. It is slated for bidding this summer and construction next year.

The city has been working to extend the airport for decades, finally receiving approval for the project in January 2015.

Funding for the first phase of construction was OK’d last fall.