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New runway may be longer
Some on airport board want facility to accommodate 767s
By Brandi Hart, McKinney Courier-Gazette
The replacement runway to be built at Collin County Regional Airport could be longer than the proposed 7,000 feet if some members of the McKinney Airport Development Corp. board have their way.
Current plans call for the runway to be within 800 feet east of the existing runway. It will have a weight-bearing capacity of 400,000 pounds, almost three times the 150,000-pound capacity of the existing runway. The replacement runway should be able to support Boeing 767 aircraft, which are commonly found at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Wiegand said. The replacement runway to be built at the Collin County Regional Airport will be nothing like what is found at most general aviation airports, Wiegand said.
“This is a huge project for an airport this size,” Wiegand said.
If the length of the replacement runway were to be extended, the city would have to pay for a second environmental assessment on the land needed for the additional length, Wiegand said. The benefit of having a longer runway would be that the airport could attract larger aircraft and cargo service, Wiegand said.
The Federal Aviation Administration delivered a finding no significant impact in last summer’s environmental assessment for the replacement runway. The FAA’s finding triggered the airport to begin work on the design, engineering, geotechnical, and surveying for the runway. The city paid $573,200
The replacement runway will be 150 feet wide, 50 feet wider than the FAA recommends for general aviation airports, which is what the municipal airport in McKinney is.
Wiegand said he expects the design for the runway to be completed by March or April 2009.
Construction of the replacement runway should begin after the design is complete. The actual construction will probably take 3-1/2 to four years to complete, since the city is “overbuilding the replacement runway” to accommodate larger planes and more air traffic. That traffic could include passenger flights and cargo traffic, Wiegand said.
The city council and the MEDC board have previously approved funding numerous phases of the commercial air service feasibility study that is looking at bringing passenger service to the airport. The MEDC board approved $195,000 for the first three phases, said Jim Young, director of business development of the MEDC.
The airport is using local funds to pay for the design, engineering, and construction of the replacement, which the airport staff, airport board and council have worked on since November 2004. The total cost of the replacement runway project is $56 million, and the airport is receiving $5 million annually in discretionary funds from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division for the replacement runway project, Wiegand said.
Wiegand will present an update at the March 13 airport board meeting at the MEDC office on the engineering, design and surveying work that KSA Engineers of McKinney is doing along Farm to Market Road 546. The road, which is south of the airport, will be moved for the replacement runwayt. MADC chairman John Lattimore Sr., Wroten, MADC member Harry McKillop, and City Councilman Pete Huff, the council liaison to the airport board, are the members of the air service committee, which will meet separately after the regular monthly MADC meeting,
Contact staff writer Brandi Hart at hartb@acnpapers.com. To post comments online, access this story at www.scntx.com.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Taxpayer wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:07 AM:
" Your tax $'s being wasted! Think about it - at best CCRA will never be nor should it be more than small feeder airport - it's not a DFW - the land size is not there - trying to squeeze in more than a small airport is stupid. How much more noise and pollution do you really want and only a few will benefit from it - primarily those constantly pushing to spend more tax $'s on CCRA. Is this McKinney's idea of "going green" as they so willing like to promote. "
Comment wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:30 AM:
" Is a huge airport what you really want in McKinney? Will is cause more noise, pollution and traffic - without a doubt. Will it lower your taxes - proably not. Will it benefit a privileged few - of course. Take a good look around Love Field - is this what you really want for McKinney?
I, for one, am willing to pay higher taxes to keep a 767 from buzzing over my head every 4 1/2 minutes.
"
I, for one, am willing to pay higher taxes to keep a 767 from buzzing over my head every 4 1/2 minutes.
"
MEDC wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:53 AM:
" Taxpayer - please don't forget - those MEDC $'s are yours - MEDC is fully funded by you, the taxpayer. "
Arjay wrote on Mar 8, 2008 10:44 AM:
" In another post I requested the assistance of our city council in selecting a prominent McKinney-ite for whom a new 4-hole outhouse I am constructing be named after. At this point howver, I am also requesting of the MEDC a grant to assist me in expanding the 4-holer into a 6-holer to accomodate more and larger posteriors. Since our tax dollars seem so available for other frivilous projects, I assume mine will be worthy of serious consideration? "
Jake wrote on Mar 9, 2008 7:24 PM:
" You are making another BIG mistake. Take a look at Meacham Field in Fort Worth - they tried 3 or 4 times to attract a passenger airline and failed each time. What makes you think you can do any better???? "
taxpayer wrote on Mar 10, 2008 11:44 AM:
" ARJAY, IT IS GOING TO DEPEND UPON
HOW POLITICALY CONNECTED YOU ARE IF YOU WILL HAVE ANY COMMUNITY USE OF THESE PUBLIC
TAX DOLLARS. AS ONE WOULD SAY DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH!! BUT SHORTLY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME CHEAP LAND ON THE EAST SIDE OF MCKINNEY, AND IN FAIRVIEW.
THOSE FOLKS WILL BE RUNNING FOR THE HILLS. AFTER THE AIRPORT HAS RUN EVERYONE OFF, THERE WONT BE ANY MEDC FUNDS AVAILABLE, THEN YOU WONT NEED A 6 SEATER!!
PROBLEMS SOLVED...
NOT THAT PETE HUFF WOULD STEP DOWN ON ANYTHING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS EVEN THO HE OWNS PROPERTY ON THE AIRPORT PROBERTY...WHAT A SHAM...YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE GETTING THE DIRTY END OF THE DEAL!! "
HOW POLITICALY CONNECTED YOU ARE IF YOU WILL HAVE ANY COMMUNITY USE OF THESE PUBLIC
TAX DOLLARS. AS ONE WOULD SAY DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH!! BUT SHORTLY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME CHEAP LAND ON THE EAST SIDE OF MCKINNEY, AND IN FAIRVIEW.
THOSE FOLKS WILL BE RUNNING FOR THE HILLS. AFTER THE AIRPORT HAS RUN EVERYONE OFF, THERE WONT BE ANY MEDC FUNDS AVAILABLE, THEN YOU WONT NEED A 6 SEATER!!
PROBLEMS SOLVED...
NOT THAT PETE HUFF WOULD STEP DOWN ON ANYTHING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS EVEN THO HE OWNS PROPERTY ON THE AIRPORT PROBERTY...WHAT A SHAM...YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE GETTING THE DIRTY END OF THE DEAL!! "
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