CAA: GA News, "New Texas airport hits 'milestone'"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Monday, August 26, 2002

New airport hits 'milestone'
By Mary Alice Kaspar
The Austin (TX) Business Journal


A $500,000 grant has been awarded to help find a site and create a master
plan for a new general aviation airport in Central Texas.

The Federal Aviation Administration's grant to the Texas Department of
Transportation will pay for site selection, environmental and feasibility
studies as well as a master plan.

David Fulton, director of TxDOT's aviation division, calls the funding a
"big milestone."

A state law enacted in 2001 authorizes TxDOT to set up and maintain a
general aviation airport in Central Texas and determine the airport's
location. TxDOT estimates the airport will cost $52 million. Of that, $31.1
million would be federal money funneled through TxDOT.

Linda Howard, director of planning and programming for TxDOT's aviation
division, is the project manager for what's being referred to as the
"Central Texas Airport." The grant money initially will be earmarked for
hiring a consulting firm to help with site selection and master planning.

A consultation selection committee has received proposals from seven
consulting firms and will narrow that list down to three by the end of
August. The seven firms are Bucker Willis & Ratliff Corp.; URS Corp.; DMJM
Aviation; PB Aviation, part of Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc.; Coffman
Associates; Delta Airport Consultants Inc.; and Wilbur Smith Associates.

Members of the consultation selection committee include TxDOT's Fulton and
Jim Randall; George Dresser of the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas
A&M University; Paul Smith of the National Business Aviation Association;
and Bill Clayton, chairman of the State Aircraft Pooling Board. Clayton, a
former speaker of the Texas House, works with political consulting firm
Capital Consultants.

TxDOT's Howard says the selection committee will schedule interviews with
the top three consultation firms in early September and make a final
decision shortly thereafter.

Nearly a year ago, TxDOT sent a memo to local municipalities and counties
inquiring about their "level of interest in being considered as a potential
site for the Central Texas Airport."

More than 20 local governments in Central Texas responded favorably. Howard
says Leander and San Marcos have shown strong interest in being home to the
new airport.

Leander City Manager Shannon Mattingly says the city is in the midst of
drafting a comprehensive plan that might include an aviation area. San
Marcos Mayor Bob Habingreither couldn't be reached for comment.

As work proceeds on a new airport, the fate of Georgetown Municipal Airport
is being debated.

"I think that what the council is really struggling with right now is what
type of airport they want long-term," says Tom Yantis, interim city manager
of Georgetown.

Yantis says one sticking point is whether to move ahead with a new air
traffic control tower. The Georgetown City Council is considering whether to
accept a matching grant for $400,000 from TxDOT to help finance that tower.
Georgetown would be required to chip in another $400,000.

A new Central Texas Airport would likely would have a significant effect on
Georgetown's airport if it is located in the North Austin area, Yantis says.
But there won't be much of an effect if the new airport is located
elsewhere, he says.

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