Fayette County Airport Authority Settles on Plan for Runway Improvement

November 13, 2003

Airport Authority Settles on Plan for Runway Improvement
Uniontown Herald Standard, PA

The Fayette County Airport Authority has settled on a 4,500-foot runway
improvement project that in one scenario would require 1.1 million cubic
yards of fill material - or 75,000 truckloads.

If those trucks were stretched end to end, "That's enough to go from here
to Harrisburg," engineering consultant Joseph S. Grubbs revealed at a
Wednesday press briefing and public meeting held at Dunbar Borough
Elementary School.

However, the $20 million project is scaled down from the more ambitious
option of a 5,300-foot runway estimated to cost $50 million and requiring
approximately 2.2 million cubic yards of fill, said airport authority
board member Martin Griglak.

"We can expect maybe now to keep (the cost) below $20 million," said Griglak.

The current runway stands at 3,458 feet and three options exist to
lengthen it to the selected 4,500 feet, according to Grubbs, who works for
Michael Baker Corp.

One of them is a "no build" option that would essentially restore a
portion of the existing runway earmarked as a safety zone. This option,
according to airport manager Sam Cortis, would involve establishing a new
safety zone.

The second option would use fill material to extend the existing runway on
the southwest end of the airport property. The third option would be to
add the extra length on both ends of the runway, which would require the
relocation of Eighty Acres Road and the takeover of several properties.

Donald A. Stephanik, senior airport engineer for McCormick, Taylor and
Associates Inc., another of the airport's consultants, said the project is
on track to obtain two critical approvals by September 2004.

Those are the environmental impact clearance and the benefit-cost analysis
required by the Federal Aviation Administration for all projects using
more than $5 million in FAA funding.

"We're about to start the benefit/cost analysis," said Grubbs.

Once the authority gets its "finding of no significant impact," or FONSI,
regarding the environment impact assessment under way, Stephanik said the
path is cleared to move to the final design phase.

Another McCormick-Taylor employee, Chris Wagner, said the environmental
assessment is "for the region itself," including nearby streams and
wetlands. Wagner said the area under study consists of approximately 150
acres in a "corridor" that includes 500 feet on either side of the runway
targeted for improvement and lengthening.

Wagner added that federal law also requires the authority to examine the
cultural and business impacts of the project, including a look at its
socio-economic implications.

Marie Swallop, a consultant involved in the public information component
of the project, said public input is a critical part of the process, which
was why last night's public meeting was geared toward one-on-one
interaction with interested parties.

Swallop said the public could access information on the project and
contact her with its concerns by accessing the airport Web site at
www.connellsvilleairport.com

Griglak said much is going on at and near the airport, with new HAZMAT and
county transportation hub buildings being built on airport grounds, and an
off-site commercial development underway on the northern edge of that
property.

Griglak also said that Laurel Mall and its surrounding 178 acres are
primed for growth, especially considering the "tremendous" sewage
treatment capacity that exists for that area.


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