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March 2007
ODOT commissions feasibility study of airports
The Lawrence County Airpark is one of five airports in the region that are part of a feasibility study aimed at determining if there is a need to expand existing facilities or possibly build a larger regional airport.
The Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation, commissioned the study to look at what can be done to beef up local airports to make them more inviting to existing businesses or those looking to locate in the area.
The study kicked off in September and, so far, has been a fact-finding mission, said Stephanie Ward, with Mead & Hunt, an aviation consulting firm that has been hired by ODOT.
The study is clearly in its infancy and there are months to go before any conclusions can be made about the airports or their current performance, Ward said.
“The ultimate goal of this (study) is to increase economic development,” Ward said. “We want to see what aviation needs are being unmet and what can be done about that to facilitate the expansion of businesses or bringing in new businesses.”
There have been about 200 surveys sent out to local businesses, organizations, government entities and economic development leaders asking their opinions on what airports need to offer to boost traffic in and out of their facilities.
Some of the topics in the survey include how often the airport is used by locals and what for, what length of runway that respondents feel is adequate and what facilities should be available to make the airport better — ground transportation, parallel taxiway, 5000-foot runway, runway lighting, etc.
All responses must be turned in by next week, Ward said. The study is expected to wrap up in June. After that, she said she is not sure where the study will go.
The other airports involved in the study are the Gallia–Meigs Regional Airport, James A. Rhodes Airport, McArthur Airport and Waverly Airport.
For more information call Ward at (517) 321-8334.
written by Kirsten Stanley; published March 28, 2007 by The Ironton Tribune
