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Board accepts $1.82 million FAA grant for airport apron and taxi lane; Williams Road relocation advances
Summary
Craven County accepted an FAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant of $1,818,298 on July 21 to help build a taxi lane and apron in the Aerospace Development Area at Craven County Regional Airport.
Craven County commissioners on July 21 approved acceptance of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Improvement Grant (AIP) from the Federal Aviation Administration totaling $1,818,298 to support construction of a taxi lane and apron in the county-designated Aerospace Development Area at Craven County Regional Airport.
Airport Director Andy Shorter said the award combines unallocated FY2024 funds with FY2025 entitlement money and will be applied toward a roughly $6.5 million taxi lane and apron project in the cleared development area. Shorter told the board the FAA will fund pavement and apron work but not clearing, road or sewer work; the county has already completed clearing and utility extensions for the 70–90 acre site and has leased approximately 55 acres in phase parcels for development.
Shorter gave commissioners an update on terminal improvements, including an inline baggage screening system and refreshed airline ticket offices added as part of a multi-year terminal project expected to finish this fall. He said the upgrades improve safety and operational efficiency for TSA and airlines and leave space for multiple carriers, with flexible offices for carriers that operate less-than-daily flights.
On runway access, Shorter reviewed the Williams Road relocation project. He said NCDOT completed NEPA-level planning work, a public information meeting was held earlier in the month with no major concerns, and draft documentation was under agency review with responses due July 29. If federal and state agency comments are minor, the project could receive a finding of no significant impact and proceed to final design and FAA environmental clearance. Shorter estimated a one-year environmental/design period followed by construction the following year, with a likely construction start after the New Year. He said moving Williams Road and associated antennas will effectively add about 400 feet of usable runway length without adding pavement, which helps performance for current aircraft and may permit larger aircraft in the future.
County Attorney Harry Grady asked the board to adopt a motion designating 817 Airport Road as property acquired for airport purposes; Grady said the airport authority has approved a budget amendment to reimburse the county for the acquisition but has not yet taken possession. The board approved the designation.
The FAA grant acceptance, the airport property designation and updates on Williams Road and terminal work were approved by the board by voice vote.
Why it matters: the grant funds advance a multi‑million-dollar airfield project intended to support economic development in the county’s Aerospace Development Area, while the Williams Road relocation could improve runway performance and aircraft operations without adding pavement.
