COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Airport runway in 2008. Photo by Sean SlemmonsThe public is invited to drop by an informal open house regarding the draft Airport Master Plan from 5:30-7 p.m., Wednesday June 20, in Council Chambers at 475 20th St.
Delta Airport Consultants is the County’s contractor for this project and will be on hand to answer questions during the open house.
The draft Master Plan is available to review prior to the open house on the County’s website at www.losalamosnm.usunder the “Projects/Airport Master Plan” link.
The webpage provides ways for residents to comment, even if they cannot attend the June 20th meeting.
This is the first of two public meetings regarding the Master Plan. An Airport Master Plan is a comprehensive study of an airport that typically identifies short and long-term development plans.
Its goal is to provide guidelines for future development such that it will satisfy a community’s aviation demand in a financially feasible manner. The elements of a master planning process vary in complexity and level of detail depending on the size, function, issues, and challenges of the individual airport.
Airport Master Plans are expected to guide development activities for 20 years.
However, to keep pace with growth, local development, or other unanticipated change, Master Plans are reviewed every five years. The Los Alamos County Airport Master Plan was completed in 1994 and has since been updated twice.
The planning process is substantial and can take up to two years. While the responsibility of preparing the master plan falls to Delta Airport Consultants, as well as Airport staff, they also include substantial involvement from other “stake holders” interested in the outcome.
A Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) has been established to provide input to the consultants and staff on a regular basis.
More information about the PAC can be found on the County’s webpage.
Airport Master Plans are eligible for federal and state aviation grant funding. The County’s portion of the cost of the Master Plan is very inexpensive.
The total cost to prepare the master plan for Los Alamos Airport is $216,466 (including NMGRT).
Ninety seven and one half percent (97.5%) of this total ($211,054) is funded by grants from the FAA and the New Mexico Division of Aviation.
An Airport Improvement Grant in the amount of $205,642 was awarded by the FAA.
The New Mexico Division of Aviation has awarded a grant in the amount of $5,412. The County’s matching share is just $5,412.
