Washington County OKs grant-backed siting study for Hagerstown Regional Airport

The Washington County Board of Commissioners authorized a task order and the acceptance of a Maryland Aviation Administration grant to update the airport siting study for Hagerstown Regional Airport and produce an approximately 30% concept-level design.

Airport Director Neil Doran said the Federal Aviation Administration no longer accepts the county's 2016 siting study and the county must update the document. "This project will include virtual modeling, so as to determine the appropriate siting lines, from the preferred site on airport property," Doran said, describing the work and its intent to position the county for possible follow-on state funding later in 2025.

The project is proposed to be funded 71.15% by the Maryland Aviation Administration grant, not to exceed $201,845; the county’s not-to-exceed contribution is $81,858. The board was presented with a budget adjustment that draws the county share from four existing airport capital accounts: EQP041 ($5,000), COM026 ($59,930), BLD117 ($10,932) and BLD088 ($5,996). Officials said the grant and consultant numbers arrived on a compressed timetable and that small differences exist between the ARF and the final grant figures supplied by the state and consultant.

Commissioners voted to authorize the president or vice president, as appropriate, to execute related documents and to permit the airport director to apply for and accept the grant offer from the Maryland Aviation Administration. The motion passed on the record with all commissioners saying "aye." The authorization notes that the project is intended to make the airport eligible for further state funding should it become available later in the year.

Background: the siting study update will include virtual modeling and plans that approximate a 30% design level, identify cost and criteria and support future grant applications.