Chico Airport secures funding for taxiway update
The Chico Airport has come one step closer to a return to commercial air service now that funding to complete major taxiway reconstruction is secured.
Chico Mayor Andrew Coolidge joined city Public Works staff and Rep. Doug LaMalfa ( RRichvale) at the Chico Airport on Wednesday, to announce securing funds to complete a third final phase of work on the airport — once the second phase is underway.
The ultimate goal is to bring back commercial air service to Chico, with a hopeful direct connection to Los Angeles.
Public Works Operations & Maintenance Division Director Erik Gustafson said Taxiway Alpha
will now be in the second phase of construction, with local contractor Knife River Construction, and pointed to ramp repairs which have already taken place in the last 10 years.
“As we’re coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic … I think we’re positioned quite well, due to the grant that helps us with the revenue guarantee program, thanks (to) the advocacy of the congressman’s office to get us that grant as well,” he said.
Gustafson noted the entire project cost about $6.6 million. The second phase was 90% funded by the Federal Aviation Administration as an improvement project with 10% remaining costs covered by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The third phase now has 90% funding from the
FAA again, and the remaining 10% is seeking grant funding.
“We’re seeing things through that are important to our infrastructure,” LaMalfa said, pointing to how Congress will be reviewing infrastructure improvements across the country while trying to recover from the pandemic’s economic impacts.
“Today you might say, well this is just a taxiway or runway, but indeed it is a door opener for a lot of things for our town, for our area. Helping put Chico, Butte County on that map with this type of travel does put more interest from outside areas to bring more industry, more new jobs to our area,” LaMalfa added.
Chico Chamber of Commerce President Katy Thoma agreed.
“It’s been a long, slow process, and COVID-19 has slowed it down, but when we see these funds coming in we know there’s hope that eventually we’re going to have air service in Chico. We know from the economic development side that we need commercial air service in Chico,”
she said.
Interim Airport Manager Rod Dinger noted there is much more work to be done once commitments to air service start being made. The terminal itself would require renovation for parking, baggage, Transportation Security Administration staff and more. He said leadership from state and federal representatives
has been critical.
“Being in Redding for over 30 years, I’ve watched Chico from afar and knowing they’ve made some strides lately, and the previous Airport Manager Sherry Miller did a great job,” Dinger said. “That’s so critical to the airport is a healthy taxiway and a healthy runway and then also getting the support
for the grant funding to try and return air service area is wonderful.
“There’s no reason to believe that with that effort, we cant make a serious run at returning air service,” he added. “But there’s many steps to go before that happens.”