Monday, July 08, 2013

Runway extension to get public hearing: Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (KMBT), Tennessee

MURFREESBORO — Residents can examine Murfreesboro Airport runway expansion plans before a public hearing July 16, Airport Manager Chad Gehrke announced.
 
The public hearing will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. July 16 in the City Council Chambers on the first floor of City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. A draft environmental assessment and drawings will on display.

Representatives from the consulting firms who assisted the city in the preparation of the assessment, Atkins North America and Hanson Professional Services, will attend the public hearing to answer any questions about the city plans to extend the runway 852 feet northward toward DeJarnette Lane, officials said.

The extension is part of the Airport Layout Plan Update, which was unanimously approved by Murfreesboro City Council last year.

The city is complying with Federal Aviation Administration procedures in presenting consultants’ work on the Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding Of No Significant Impact.

Copies of the documents are available for public review and comment at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, 1930 Memorial Blvd.; in Linebaugh Public Library, second floor Reference Table, 105 West Vine St.; and in the City Hall offices of the city recorder on the first floor and of Planning and Engineering on the second floor.

The City Hall and the library are part of Civic Plaza, and free parking is available underneath in a two-story garage with access from Vine, Church and Broad streets.

Written comments will be received by Hanson Professional Services, 53 Century Blvd., Suite 160, Nashville, TN 37214, until 4 p.m. July 26 for transmission to the FAA. The comments received will be transcribed without alteration and included as a part of the environmental assessment document, which will be sent to the FAA for its review and determination.

People attending the July 16 public hearing will have opportunity to record their comments for inclusion in the assessment and official consideration by the FAA reviewers. Attendees may present their comments orally for transcription by a court reporter, or they may write down comments.

The airport’s services to the community continue to be invaluable, Gehrke stated in a press release. Murfreesboro Municipal Airport is home to the Middle Tennessee State University aerospace department, one of the top aviation programs in the nation, which continues to attract students from all over the country.

A recent MTSU economic impact study concluded the airport has about a $70 million impact on the local economy, the manager added. The airport is one of the few general aviation airports in the state that is self- supporting. No local tax dollars are used in its annual budget for operations or capital improvements.

For more than 60 years, the airport has been a great asset to the community and its residents, Gehrke said, and he looks forward to seeing the results and completion of this environmental assessment as the airport prepares to serve the community into the future.


Source:  http://www.dnj.com

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