Addison Council hears kickoff for Addison Airport master plan update

The Addison City Council on April 8 heard a presentation launching an update to the Addison Airport master plan, led by consultant Wilbur & Associates and funded primarily by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

Jim Nicholas, project lead for Wilbur & Associates, told the council the master-plan update will look ahead roughly 20 years, produce forecasts and alternatives, and identify projects and estimated costs for TxDOT and FAA review. He said the team will include ELLIC Associates for community outreach and Randall Weidman for financial analysis.

Nicholas reviewed the airport’s history and role in the regional transportation system, noting prior plans and recent improvements including a new administration building, US Customs facilities, taxiway work and upgrades to safety equipment. He cited a 2018 TxDOT economic-impact study (presented in the briefing) that previously attributed hundreds of millions of dollars in economic output to the airport but said industry trends since 2018 have changed those figures.

Nicholas said the master plan is intended as a planning document—not a marketing plan or business plan—and will be shaped by community values. He described the typical master-plan approach: establish goals, inventory current facilities, forecast future operations and aircraft types, identify design or safety gaps with FAA standards, develop alternatives, produce recommendations and cost estimates, and compile a package acceptable to TxDOT and FAA.

The consultant said the work will include three community meetings, steering‑committee sessions (a first steering meeting was held the same day), public surveys and a project website (www.addisonairportmasterplan.com). He estimated most work will occur within a 12‑month period and noted TxDOT will review the forecast and technical elements. He also said planning will attempt to anticipate needs so the airport can act proactively rather than waiting for demand to appear.

Council members asked about emerging technologies—specifically drones and advanced air mobility (vertical‑takeoff vehicles). Nicholas said the planning team is discussing advanced‑air‑mobility use cases with steering‑committee members and is building conceptual infrastructure considerations into the plan, while acknowledging federal rules and the technology’s operational models are still evolving. He also said the plan can consider ways to increase the airport’s value to the community—such as viewing areas or trails—and that outreach materials (videos and handouts) will be used to explain possible community amenities.

Nicholas confirmed TxDOT is funding a majority portion of the consultant contract and that TxDOT pays 90% of the grant; the town’s 10% match had been previously approved. He said the project website is live with background materials and that a more detailed public schedule will follow inventory and forecasting work.

The presentation closed with an invitation for council and residents to participate; no formal action was required at the meeting.