Saturday, February 16, 2013

Chippewa Valley Regional (KEAU), Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Officials drafting long-range plans for airport

A long-range plan for improvements at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport includes $9.37 million in projects within the next five years, according to a draft version.

The Eau Claire airport gets $1 million each year from the Federal Aviation Administration, but the projects also rely on additional federal and state funding that it will have to compete for, airport manager Charity Speich said.

"Some parts of these projects might get slid from one year to the next to capitalize on the funding for that year," she said.

Every 10 years the airport does a public review of its long-range plans. The airport is bringing its current draft to multiple groups — the city's Plan Commission will hear about it Monday — for discussion before it is approved by the Airport Commission.

A public open house will be held on the plan by the end of February or early March, Speich said.

The current draft includes a list of 23 projects for 2014 to 2018, including reconstructing a runway and taxiways, buying equipment, renovating hangars and installing wildlife fencing.

Much of the work is upkeep to runways to maintain the pavement in accordance with FAA standards.

The draft budget for the first five years of the plan has $5 million in FAA entitlements that are guaranteed to the airport, but also $2.57 million in federal money that CVRA would have to compete for against other airports.

It also seeks $403,700 from the state Department of Transportation and would use $1.4 million in local funds.

Local funds come from airport user fees and contracts with Eau Claire and Chippewa counties. The plan does not require the airport to seek additional money from local taxpayers, Speich said.

Included in the airport's draft plan is a projection that there will be about 20 percent more flights in and out of the Chippewa Valley by 2031.

The plan for the next 10 years calls for fewer improvements than were made in the past decade. Major renovation of the airport terminal between 2008 and 2011 cost about $10 million.

Story:   http://www.leadertelegram.com

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