Manassas council hears airport CIP update and AdPorts terminal plan; staff seeks three new airport positions

Manassas City Council on March 19 received a progress update on airport capital projects and a presentation from AdPorts on plans for a new terminal aimed at supporting commercial passenger service, and discussed hiring three airport staff needed for expanded operations.

City staff and AdPorts said design work is underway on a new air traffic control tower, a runway rehabilitation, a fuel‑farm upgrade, replacement or reinforcement of a runway/taxiway bridge, and utility work needed for a terminal expansion that AdPorts is developing. Pranav Trivedi, project executive for AdPorts, said the project team is aiming for construction-start milestones that would support commercial service in the first quarter of 2026 but that federal approvals remain a gating item.

The discussion matters because the projects affect airport safety, FAA funding eligibility and the timeline for introducing commercial airline service to Manassas, which will change airport staffing, operations and local infrastructure needs.

City staff outlined the major airport CIP items and current design status. Juan (airport staff) said the air traffic control tower is at roughly 15% design and should reach about 45–50% by June; if environmental review and FAA approvals proceed the project could start construction in 2026 and take about 18 months. On the runway rehabilitation, staff said preliminary design indicates a mill-and-fill solution that could reduce a previously estimated $20 million cost to roughly $15 million,…