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Ennis hears 20-year airport layout plan that would widen runway, add hangars
Summary
Consultants presented a 20-year airport layout plan for Ennis Municipal Airport that designates a Beech King Air as the design aircraft, updates the published runway length to 4,011 feet and proposes widening the runway to 60 feet; consultants said construction NTP is estimated for June 2026 and coordination will aim to minimize tenant disruption.
Consultants from Wolpert presented an updated 20-year Airport Layout Plan for the Ennis Municipal Airport at the July 1 city commission meeting, outlining runway, taxiway and landside changes intended to keep the small airport safe and operational while accommodating future demand.
Jeff Borwick, the project manager, said the ALP process reviewed the airport’s airside and landside inventory, conducted forecasts and developed a phased capital improvement plan. "The recommended design aircraft is a Beech King Air," Borwick said, adding that the plan bases runway and taxiway design standards on that aircraft.
Borwick told the commission the team updated the published runway length from 3,999 feet to 4,011 feet and is proposing to widen the runway to 60 feet to meet B‑I small‑airport standards, which will require relocating some signs and approach lighting. "We are looking to expand the width to 60 feet to meet the B‑I small standard," he said.
On the landside, the plan shows a terminal expansion and a mix of hangar types — T‑hangars and box hangars — and notes that some potential hangar development lies on property not yet acquired. Borwick emphasized the ALP itself does not commit the city to build: items must be placed on the ALP to be eligible for future development or federal funding.
Commissioners pressed the consultants on pedestrian connections and construction timing. Borwick said a shared‑use path is proposed to connect the FBO area to the park and that design details — including path width — will be determined in the design phase. On schedule, he said the consultant’s current estimate is a construction notice to proceed in June 2026 with project completion in December 2026, though he cautioned that the timeline is subject to change and the team is working to minimize tenant impacts.
The presentation also addressed operational constraints: Borwick said FAA safety standards likely preclude using the taxiway as a temporary runway at Ennis because the taxiway is short, narrow and close to buildings. He described typical phasing approaches, coordination with TxDOT and adjacent airports, and an offer to help find temporary hangar space for displaced tenants during construction.
Consultants provided an executive summary to the commission and said they will remain available for follow‑up with the FAA and TxDOT. The commission took no formal action on the ALP at the meeting.
