Runway extension plans detailed for public
At least 56 people showed up at an informal public meeting Thursday night where the Fayette County Airport Authority solicited input for updating its master development plan. Held in the student lounge at Penn State Fayette Campus, the meeting was purposely low-key, with no official agenda or speakers. Its atmosphere resembled that of a museum tour, as people made their way past a series of easels featuring charts, graphs and seven maps that each showed an option for a runway extension.
Airport authority board members and consultants manned invisible booths near each easel, answering questions and engaging participants in general conversation about the master plan update.
Most of the public’s attention was focused on the runway extension options, which ranged in projected cost from a low of $20.9 million to a high of $55.5 million. The featured options called for building enough extension to create either a 5,300-foot or a 4,500-foot runway, with a width of either 75 or 100 feet.
Currently, the airport’s biggest runway is 3,800 feet long and 100 feet wide.
Board member Martin Griglak, who literally led group tours through the line of easels, said the pricier proposals generally involve huge amounts of fill material to extend the runway from an end where the current topography contains a steep drop.
“The price tags are being determined right now by the amount of fill dirt that would have to be brought in,” said Griglak.
Scott Bush, of authority consultant Benatec Associates, estimated that between 2 million and 4 million cubic yards of fill material would be needed to add another 1,200 feet of runway length at the smaller 75-foot width.
The projected costs for various configurations of the 4,500-foot runway were $38.3 million, $21.1 million and $20.9 million, while the projected costs of the 5,300-foot runway were $47.6 million, $53.3 million, $43.5 million and $55.5 million.
Generally speaking, the runway expansion can be accomplished on one end by trucking in large volumes of fill dirt, or on the other end by encroaching onto property not currently owned by the authority. The latter method would likely involve the purchase of additional land from adjoining property owners.
Board member Fred K. Davis said the main question posed to him by participants was, “Will any houses or property be taken in the process?” Davis said he understands people’s sensitivity on this issue but noted, as did other board members, that he was pleased with the turnout by people who asked those questions.
“It’s an excellent venue to address the rumors that are out there right now,” said Davis.
Griglak echoed that sentiment while addressing the concerns of some participants. “It’s just as important to us as it is to you that we work together,” he said.
Griglak added that most people who spoke to him voiced concerns about how further development of the airport – and an extended runway in particular – might impact their property or quality of life.
“They wanted to know, would they have noise pollution or storm water runoff? Would it disturb their tranquility?” relayed Griglak. He added that the board appreciated people showing up to voice their concerns, as it’s important for them to speak up early in the planning process so necessary adjustments can be made.
“We need their participation,” said Griglak, who noted that the real “hard nut questions” would come later in the planning process.
Regarding the laid-back meeting format, board member Jesse Wallace said the atmosphere was a perfect fit for what amounted to a public education effort by the board. Wallace said he thought more people got more questions asked and answered in the mix-and-mingle approach than from something more highly structured.
“Instead of having one guy stand up and talk, they could interact with us and our engineers,” said Wallace. “I think it’s a little more informal, which brings more questions from the public … I didn’t think we’d have this many (attendees), but I’m glad that we do.”
Some participants, however, didn’t care for the format and grumbled that they were no closer to knowing what the real plan is than when they walked through the door.
Peggy DeHanis, who lives on Bethelboro Road a little more than a mile from the airport, said the meeting should have had a more structured format, so that she and others in her group could learn more specifics.
“When you come to a meeting, they should have a meeting,” said DeHanis. “We’re not Rhodes scholars. Somebody should explain something to us. … As far as I’m concerned, those maps aren’t self-explanatory.”
While admitting that officials told her nothing is 100 percent in terms of the preliminary planning, DeHanis said she fears that the runway extension plan and the small but loud jets that come with it will disrupt her quiet, rural lifestyle.
“That’s what concerns me is the lifestyle. I’ve been there for 33 years,” said DeHanis.
Donna Rowan of Bethelboro said she fears the airport project will adversely affect the 54-acre farm that has been in her husband’s family for years.
“My husband’s family had that farm. Now they want to take everything,” said Rowan. “We don’t know anything. I guess we’re just going to have to go to the (authority board) meeting at the airport. You seem to find out more there.”