Airport director reports passenger gains and infrastructure pipeline; runway mostly complete
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Summary
The airport director told the committee March and April passenger numbers increased (20% and 33%), reported runway construction at roughly 75% completion with one 16‑hour closure remaining, and outlined upcoming projects including taxiway rehabilitation grant work, checkpoint expansion (TSA compliance) and fuel farm relocation planning.
Airport Director Jose Saavedra reported to the Business & Economic Development Committee that passenger traffic is up compared with the prior year and that a set of major airfield and terminal projects are moving through construction and planning.
Saavedra said March passenger numbers were about 20% higher than the prior year and April was about 33% higher. He said the runway rehabilitation is about 75% complete after several scheduled closures; one 16‑hour closure remains later this summer. "I estimate the project to be completed at 75% or so," Saavedra said, adding that the contractor for the connector project is mobilized and that work there is underway.
Key near‑term items Saavedra described: - Passenger boarding bridge (Gate 11): lead times for replacement equipment are long (current lead time cited as about a year); the project is PFC-funded and staff are monitoring opportunities to shorten lead time if another airport’s project becomes available. - Taxiway Alpha: staff plan to accept an FAA grant request to complete 30% design work that will determine whether a mill/overlay or full replacement is required. - Checkpoint expansion: preliminary engineering selected; work will bring current security lines into TSA compliance and add a third screening line with space preserved for a fourth; the project will be funded with Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs). - Fuel farm relocation: the current fueling facility is about 75 years old and outside the airport fence; the master plan identified three relocation options and staff are recruiting specialized engineers for design work. - Consolidated car rental facility: staff discussed pursuing a customer facility charge (CFC) added to rental reservations to finance a consolidated rental facility and cited Portland’s experience as a reference.
Saavedra said the airport is preparing a business/strategic plan and recommended continued frequent reporting to the council or a revived airport committee because of the large project pipeline. Committee members supported the idea of closer oversight given the number and scale of projects.
