Title
Presentation and Discussion of the Taxiway F Relocation Project and West Development Area at the Los Alamos County Airport (LAM)
Body
The 2013 Airport Master Plan identified the need to bring Taxiway F into compliance with current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design standards. Therefore, the objective of the project includes a multi-phase study, design and construction effort to relocate and construct a partial parallel taxiway requiring removal of the existing fuel farm and hangars along Taxiway F, the relocation of the primary access road that serves the Airport’s Terminal Building/primary security gate, and a new public hangar development area. The airside and landside development analysis involved a detailed analysis of short- and long-term requirements, as well as future growth potential. Safety, both in the air and on the ground, was given a high priority status. The development analysis represents an airside facility that fulfills safety design standards and a landside complex that can be developed as demand dictates.
Through local operating procedures, Taxiway F has been closed to through traffic. The procedure states all aircraft are directed to back-taxi on the runway, then turn around on the runway to prepare for takeoff. The current FAA Airport/Facility Directory also identifies several conditions for pilots to be aware of in the vicinity of the airport, which includes the landing and takeoff procedures.
The preferred development plan as set forth in the Airport Master Plan and depicted on the FAA approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP) is a road map to future development at the airport. It should be followed to the greatest extent possible as the plan takes into consideration bringing Taxiway F into compliance with FAA design standards and provides a strategy to maximize airport developable land. The County, as the Airport Sponsor, retains the flexibility to make changes to the landside (hangar) layout plan with FAA concurrence.
As part of the Federal Fiscal Year 2023 Airport CIP, the FAA funded the assembly of a Preliminary Engineering Report. As part of this effort, the County has contracted with Delta Airport Consultants to assess the issues and identify potential options to address the safety concerns identified by the FAA.
The 5-year Airport Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 through 2028 was submitted to the FAA on August 1, 2023. In collaboration with the FAA program manager, New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Division, Delta Airport Consultants and county staff, the County submitted the CIP with requested funding amounts based on the maximization of development.
The proposed funding of the entire project is as follows:
FFY 2023 Preliminary Engineering Report (in process): $158,000
FFY 2024 Environmental Review/Study: $300,000
FFY 2025 Design: $575,000
FFY 2026 & 2027 Construction: $7,815,000
Total Estimated Project Costs: $8,848,000
Please note, federal airport funding is typically comprised of 90% FAA Funds and a 10% Match (5% Local + 5% State).
The presentation, included as Attachment A, provides an overview of the preliminary engineering activities conducted to date including an assessment of existing conditions and current FAA design standards. The presentation also includes various design layout options, Preliminary Engineer’s Opinion of Probable Construction Costs, project constraints and concerns as well as discussion of public comments received. An Airport Open House was held on June 28, 2023 with approximately 40 community members in attendance, and the project was presented to the Transportation Board on July 6, 2023. Attachment B includes a summary of public comments received to date.
Several ongoing and funded endeavors that will help to advance this project include:
- New fuel farm east of the terminal building: Design is complete, state and federal construction funding in the total amount of $3.3 Million has been awarded. Advertisement for construction bids is scheduled late Summer, early Fall 2023.
- New T-Hangars east of the terminal building: The County was recently awarded state funds for design and construction of the project in the amount of $1.5 Million. Council action of the funding agreement is anticipated on August 29, 2023.
Attachments
A - Taxiway F Presentation
B - Summary of Public Comments Received