Tulip City Airport Expansion May Bring Commuter Flights, Mayor Says

Airport Expansion May Bring Commuter Flights, Mayor
Says 
The Grand Rapids Press, MI

Thursday, February 12, 2004 


HOLLAND -- After Tulip City Airport is upgraded with a
runway extension, security fencing, an instrument
landing system and someday a new terminal, it might be
time to consider the possibility of adding commuter
service to Chicago and Detroit, said Mayor Al
McGeehan. 

 
It is one way to draw more support for the airport
from the average resident, he said. 

Eventually, there might be interest by companies in
providing passenger carrier service out of Holland,
said Jim Storey, longtime chairman of the city's
airport advisory board. 

"We have to be ready for the day an air carrier
discovers Holland," Storey said. 

For now, the focus should be on maintaining a quality
airport to support the area's industrial sector, City
Manager Soren Wolff said. 

Eighty percent of the area's biggest industrial
taxpayers use the airport. 

"The bottom line is there is no question that the
airport has had a substantial impact on our growth,"
Wolff said. 

Last year, the Holland airport logged more than 51,000
flights, of which 90 percent were corporate flights by
companies in Holland, Zeeland, Holland Township and
surrounding communities. The other 10 percent were
private planes. 

As work on an expansion moves along, an effort to
create an airport authority to operate the facility is
picking up steam. 

At a study session Wednesday, Holland City Council
heard an update on the airport and its future by
Storey. 

While the airport is owned by the city of Holland, it
used as a regional facility, Storey said. 

"So the airport ... is a huge economic asset to the
community," Storey said. 

City charter prevents any local tax money from being
used to support the airport's operations or capital
projects. With 95 percent of the funding coming from
federal and state government, the expansion will
address safety concerns, Storey said. The local match
is provided through the donations by the airport's
users. 

The biggest expense in the $32 million project is the
creation of a traffic tunnel that will run under a
portion of the 1,200-foot runway extension. 

Future funding of new airport improvements by the
state indicated is unlikely because it will be turning
its attention to other projects, Storey said. 

"They have pretty much said when we are done (with
this project), ... we done with Holland and are moving
to a new community," Storey said. 

The erection of a security fencing around the entire
site will be the next big expense for the airport. The
project is expected to cost about $340,000. 







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