MORGANTOWN — Fifteen years ago it was a prediction — by extending the Morgantown Municipal Airport runway safety zone the city had laid the groundwork for a runway extension to follow.
Ten years ago it was the centerpiece of an airport master plan compiled by the city and engineering and design firm Michael Baker International.
Five years ago it was the goal as the city began working in earnest to clear the project with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Today, the coveted runway extension is a reality.
During a press conference held Thursday at the Morgantown Municipal Airport, Morgantown City Manager Paul Brake announced that the FAA has come through with the needed concurrences — FAA speak for “approvals,” and the extension is cleared for takeoff.
Work on the $50 million project to add 1,001 feet to the existing 5,199-foot runway is expected to begin next fall and take at least five years to complete.
“We are very pleased to announce that we now formally have met the requirements to begin the construction of Runway 1836 of the Morgantown Municipal Airport,” Brake announced, drawing applause from the assembled officials.
The focus now turns on ensuring the project gets the backing of elected officials in Washington by way of funding appropriations.
Brake explained that funds are doled out to district offices of the FAA, which then distributes it to individual airports.
“Now that we have that approval, we’re going to be switching gears and talking to the elected folks to let them know how important it is, through Congress’s budgeting process, to appropriate sufficient funds,” Brake said. “Otherwise, and while I don’t predict this, it could have dire circumstances if it’s not adequately funded. So in that way, it’s good that this is going to be a project over multiple years. We’re not asking for that money in a lump sum.”
The majority of the project’s funding will be federal appropriations. Best case scenario is 90% federal funding, 5% state funding and 5% percent local funding.
But until that federal number is worked out, “You can’t really begin to speculate,” Brake said.
Just as the legwork to get the project approved and funded is a major undertaking, the scope of the work to come is intimidating.
Brad Homan, project engineer from Michael Baker International, explained that some 4.4 million cubic yards of earth will be moved to the north end of the runway, essentially building up 20 stories of foundation for the extension.
Homan said that his job is making sure the work gets done — right down to paving the new runway — without interrupting service.
“That’s the part I enjoy,” Homan said. “Quite honestly, moving a big pile of dirt doesn’t excite me. My challenge is building it without closing down the runway. That’s what I bring with the aviation expertise. I’ve done this at multiple airports … We will construct this project with very little to no impact.”
And while the placement of all that dirt is building up a foundation for the runway, its removal is clearing a foundation for future economic development in the form of the I-68 Commerce Park, to be located on the other side of the airport’s new T-hangars, east of the runway.
The commerce park has been the focus of the Monongalia County Development Authority, one of the agencies working under the Morgantown Area Partnership, which was formed late last year.
MAP President and CEO Russ Rogerson came to Morgantown six months ago. He said the potential of the airport and commerce park projects helped him make that decision.
“You’re getting two for one. This effort is going to improve airport operations, improve access and improve quality of services, but it’s also going to allow us to create 90-plus acres of developable land that we can recruit companies into to bring jobs and investment to our community,” Rogerson said.
Even newer to the area is Morgantown Municipal Airport Director Jonathan Vrabel, who took over airport operations in late August.
Vrabel said he expects the extended runway to result in “exponential growth” at the airport as it will accommodate larger aircraft.
“It’s hard to say, but maybe 5,000 to 10,000 additional operations a year, but I’d like to see that go further. I’m hoping to get some additional carrier service which will push up those operation numbers as well,” Vrabel said, explaining that his infrastructure goals go far beyond the runway.
Vrabel has been at work cleaning up, and generally decluttering the airport terminal by tearing down walls, removing old signage and slapping on some fresh paint.
By the time the runway extension project is complete, Vrabel said he’d like to unveil a totally remodeled and updated terminal, though funding for such a project will have to come from local, state or non-FAA federal dollars.
“They won’t,” Vrabel said with a laugh when asked if the feds would fund a new terminal building in addition to the runway extension. “I already know that.”
The Morgantown Municipal Airport is the busiest airport in the state based on number of flights. It also has the shortest runway of all the state’s commercial carrier airports.
Jenny Selin has been following the runway project as a member of Morgantown City Council for more than a decade. She said she’s thankful for all the people who have had a hand in making it a reality.
More than anything, she said, she’s ready to see it finished.
“This is a great day, to be able to actually get started,” Selin said. “You can talk about something and plan for something and create plans and develop partnerships, but if you don’t get the approvals and actually get started, it’s all talk. Now we’re ready to get going.”
