[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: City of Columbia - Columbia Regional Airport recipient of $11 million dollar FAA Grant for Runway Improvements

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tamara Pitts, Manager, Columbia Regional Airport
(573) 874-7508

Steven Sapp, Director, Community Relations
(573) 874-7257

City of Columbia - Columbia Regional Airport recipient of $11 million dollar FAA Grant for Runway Improvements

COLUMBIA, MO (October 6, 2016) - The City of Columbia and Columbia Regional Airport (COU) are excited to announce the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded COU a grant in the amount of $11 million dollars to rebuild and lengthen runway 13-31.

Identified in the 2009 Airport Master Plan and included in the Airport Layout Plan, the reconstruction and lengthening of crosswind runway 13-31 is a critical part of the infrastructure improvements to improve safety and operations at COU.

In 2015, COU was awarded a grant by the FAA to realign Rangeline Road along the eastern border of the COU. The realignment was necessary to allow runway 13-31 to be lengthened from 4,400 feet to 5,500 feet. The Rangeline Road realignment was completed this August.

"We are very excited to begin work on this project as soon as a possible. Our partnership with the FAA is strong and this award demonstrates the commitment of the FAA and COU to continue to complete the list of projects identified in the 2009 Master Plan and our Airport Layout Plan," said Tamara Pitts, Manager of Columbia Regional Airport.

The $11 million dollar grant will fund 90% of the project costs with the remaining 10% funded by the local Transportation Sales Tax. The project will consist of:

The reconstruction of runway 13-31 from a 75 foot wide, 4,400 foot long asphalt surface runway to a 100 foot wide, 5,500 foot long concrete surface crosswind runway. 

The installation of a new taxiway B

The installation of a new lighting system for runway 13-31 and taxiway B

The installation of a new vertical/visual guidance system also known as a Precision Approach Path Indicator for runway 13-31

"This is another step outlined in our planning process to position COU as a modern airport which we believe will strengthen our position with airlines to gain additional flights to existing routes, new routes and new carriers," said Stacey Button, Director of Economic Development which oversees COU. "As we continue to improve our infrastructure, the future of COU as an economic engine and tourism generator will continue to grow."

The project is expected to be underway by late fall of this year with a completion date sometime in the summer of 2017. 


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