HOULTON, Maine — Updates to the town’s master plan for the Houlton International Airport include several potential development projects.
Members of the Houlton town council were updated on the progress of the airport master plan review Monday evening when members of Stantec, a consulting firm based out of Scarborough, presented their findings to the board.
“Stantec has provided consulting services to the town since 2003, and is nearing completion of the update to the Airport Master Plan,” Houlton Town Manager Bill MacDonald said Tuesday. “The Houlton International Airport is an important part of our regional transportation assets.”
The current effective Houlton International Airport Master Plan Update was published in 2002. MacDonald said the Federal Aviation Administration determines eligibility for Airport Improvement Program funding based on the Airport Master Plan, with 20-year forecasting.
Janice Bland, senior aviation planner for Stantec, informed the councilors that the renovations to the airport would be funded through the federal Airport Improvement Program, with 90 percent of the projects paid for by the FAA. The Maine Department of Transportation would pay for 5 percent with the final 5 percent funded by local tax dollars.
“The purpose of renovations and upgrades to airport services would be to support and maintain current private, government, and commercial flight services and provide for possible expansion,” MacDonald said. “The long term consideration of expanded hangar development would primarily be for private and business aircraft. Commercial passenger flights are not projected at this time.”
Included in the 20-year plan are reconstruction of the two runways at the airport; expansion of automobile parking; reconstruction of the airport’s taxiway; and creation of several new hangars to accommodate additional aircraft.
“One of the big changes would be to move the primary taxiway from its current location in order to meet current standards,” Bland said. “That move would allow room for additional hangars, which were determined to be a need for the airport and would bring revenue into the town.”
An “obstruction analysis” must also be completed to see if any land issues exist that would preclude expansion at the airport.
The complete project cost was estimated to be about $12.5 million, with additional funds also needed for easements and removal of any obstructions deemed necessary for the runway expansion.
Before any work commences, the town, FAA and MDOT all must endorse the airport master plan. The timetable for the work would be contingent on funds being available from the FAA.
