Port's taxiway project postponed to 2007

by Matthew Weaver<br>Herald Staff Writer
| December 15, 2005 8:00 PM

Grant money delayed

MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake's plans to rehabilitate one of its northern runways will have to wait.

Earlier this month, port officials said that the rehabilitation of Grant County International Airport's Taxiway Delta was a large part of the 2006 budget.

The $2 million rehabilitation project was part of a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Project, or AIP, meaning that the port was only required to pay 5 percent, said port manager Craig Baldwin.

But now that project has been postponed for another year while waiting on grant money.

Baldwin explained that Congress sets aside so much money for AIP grant dollars in their budget, some set aside for state airports and some for commercial airports. The amount of money an airport receives is based on passenger numbers. Because passenger numbers at Grant County International Airport are below 10,000, the port district does not qualify for AIP entitlement funding.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Congress extended entitlement dollars to airports of less than 10,000 passengers for a period of time ending in 2005. Because the port's passenger numbers are less than 10,000, the port would qualify under state funding, which is still federal money, given to the state by the government through FAA channels, Baldwin explained.

But Congress extended the entitlement to airports with fewer than 10,000 passengers for one additional year, entitling the Grant County airport to $500,000 under federal grants for 2006.

"Because we're now federally entitled, we can't use the state funds for this year for the project, because you cannot pool from both funds in the same year," Baldwin explained. The port will not have access to the $2 million for the project until the 2007 budget year.

Baldwin said the project consists of 9,600 square yards of 19-inch thick concrete paving over crushed aggregate base, 16,000 square yards of pavement demolition, 6,000 cubic yards of excavation, 800 tons of asphalt concrete paving and 40,000 square feet of pavement marking and associated electrical work.

Baldwin said the taxiway is still usable but deteriorating, and the port will monitor it during the year.

"If we need to repair portions, we will do that, but it needs a complete replacement," Baldwin said. "Obviously, money is the issue, and it's an issue for everybody."