During its May meeting in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma\nAeronautics Commission approved a $184 million Airport Construction Program\n(ACP) for fiscal years 2023-2027, with a total of 85 airport infrastructure\nprojects serving 57 communities throughout Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am thrilled to see this commitment and investment in\nOklahoma\u2019s rapidly growing aeronautics industry,\u201d said Governor Kevin Stitt.\n\u201cThis significant upgrade to airport infrastructure will impact communities\nacross the state, and help the state retain and recruit more companies to do\nbusiness in Oklahoma.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than $127 million in federal funds will pay for the\nmajority of the projects based on federal formula funding as well as\ncompetitive discretionary projects, while $22.2 million in state grants and\n$33.7 million in local matching funds will cover the remaining costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through its ACP, the Commission determines funding for\nairport projects at the 104 general aviation airports across Oklahoma. While projects are prioritized based on\nsafety, standards, pavement preservation and being aviation business ready, the\noverall Oklahoma Airport System Plan (OASP) that is approved by the Commission\nis the long-term planning tool used to identify the network of airports and the\ninfrastructure requirements needed to serve the state. The OASP identifies\nairports by their functional capabilities and services they provide to the\naviation community at large. The ACP allows the Commission, the Federal\nAviation Administration (FAA) and airport sponsors to anticipate airport\nfunding needs and accommodate changes in project scope, cost, and schedule\nbased on multi-year planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI appreciate the Commission\u2019s support of the five-year\nAirport Construction Program, which contains record investments in Oklahoma\u2019s\nairport system,\u201d Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz said. \u201cThe\nprojects in the ACP will improve the safety, reliability and competitiveness of\nour aviation infrastructure and continue the great partnerships the state has\nwith all of our airports in rural and urban areas.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The State Director of Aeronautics Grayson Ardies stated, \u201cWe\nare very fortunate that our aviation industry is recovering at a record pace in\nOklahoma and these investments will ensure that we continue on our upward\ntrajectory. With the state\u2019s leaders\ninvesting even more into airport infrastructure our ACP will undergo changes in\nthe upcoming months and years. We will\nhave the opportunity to invest in new hangars, more terminal buildings and\nother infrastructure upgrades that will allow our airports to attract new\nbusinesses and companies.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many significant projects in the approved ACP,\nmost of which involve FAA discretionary funding directed by the\nCommission. Two major projects involve\nthe construction of a new parallel taxiway at Ardmore Municipal Airport and a\nrunway extension at Robert S. Kerr Airport in Poteau. Currently programmed for\n2023 is $5.4 million for the next phase of the taxiway project in Ardmore which\nwill help this facility enhance safety and expand its potential for\nmaintenance, repair and overhaul and cargo operations in the future. In 2025,\n$5.5 million will be invested to extend Poteau\u2019s runway to 5,000 ft to ensure\nit is ready for business jet aircraft and potential aviation companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other notable projects in the ACP include major renovations\nor new construction for runway, taxiway, or other infrastructure across the\nstate at airports such as Tulsa Riverside ($3.3 million for taxiway\nreconstruction in 2023); Max Westheimer in Norman ($9 million for construction\nof a new air traffic control tower in 2024); Guthrie\/Edmond Regional ($6.5\nmillion for taxiway reconstruction and apron expansion in 2025); Enid Woodring\nRegional ($2.7 million for apron expansion and rehabilitation in 2026);\nMuskogee Davis Regional ($4.3 million for runway rehabilitation in 2026); Atoka\nMunicipal ($5 million for phase 1 of new airport construction in 2027); Durant\nRegional ($3.8 million for apron expansion in 2027); and Mid-America in Pryor\n($6.7 million for runway extension to 6,000ft and strengthening in 2027).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Commission will also participate in airport terminal\nconstruction projects at El Reno Regional, Guthrie\/Edmond Regional, McAlester\nRegional, Ponca City Regional, Stillwater Regional and West Woodward Airports\nby providing state grants of $500,000 that require a 50% match from the local\ncommunity. These terminal buildings are\nvital to the economic success of each community\u2019s airport. They will provide beautiful and functional\nentryways into those communities for business and recreational travelers using\nthe Oklahoma Airport System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n