The purpose of this item is to authorize acceptance of an Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant offer from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in the total amount of $8,060,300 for both design and a first construction phase for extensions of Taxiway Bravo on the west side of the airport.
Addison Airport has a single runway served by a full-length parallel taxiway (Taxiway Alpha) east of the runway and a partial parallel taxiway (Taxiway Bravo) west of the runway. The proposed extension of Taxiway Bravo to the north is contemplated in the 2016 Addison Airport Master Plan and is included in TxDOT's current Aviation Capital Improvement Program. The extension of the taxiway will provide runway and taxiway access to a 4.2-acre parcel of land on the west side of the airport and facilitate aeronautical development of that land. Taxiway Bravo will also be extended at its south end (where it presently terminates at Taxiway Charlie) to join with the south end of the runway. The proposed project additionally includes construction of a vehicle service road west of Taxiway Bravo, which would enable ground vehicles to traverse the west side of the airport without the need to obtain clearance from the Air Traffic Control Tower to use Taxiway Bravo (which is presently the only option).
The design phase of the taxiway extension and associated scope elements is estimated to cost $805,000 and the Town is required to commit 10% of the estimated design cost, or $80,500, which is the amount that was budgeted. The design phase includes a preliminary engineering report (PER) for the eventual extension of Taxiway Bravo to become a full-length parallel taxiway. The design phase also includes engineering and design for the Taxiway Bravo and Golf extensions, the extension of Taxiway Bravo at the south end to connect to the runway, the west side service road (vehicle access road), and taxiway lighting improvements. Funds for this expense have been budgeted in the Airport Capital Projects Fund. The design phase of the project will receive grant funding in the current fiscal year (Fiscal Year 2021) and will require Addison to provide the matching funds of $80,500 to TxDOT before the project proceeds.
The first construction phase of the Taxiway Bravo extensions and associated improvements is estimated to cost $7,255,300. The Town will be required to commit matching funds for this project estimated to total $1,414,770 including a 10% matching share of $553,220 for the taxiway improvements and a 50% matching share of $861,550 for construction of the west vehicle service road. The 50% matching share for the service road is a TxDOT requirement, not a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirement; under FAA standards, the road is eligible for a 90% grant share, especially since it is a safety enhancement. Matching funds for this first construction phase will be required to be provided to TxDOT only after bids for the project are received. Funding for this phase of the project is planned for Fiscal Year 2022 and will be included in the proposed budget for the Airport Capital Projects Fund.
After the PER in the design phase of the project is complete, staff will discuss the level of funding for the vehicle service road with TxDOT. If TxDOT does not agree that the west side service road should be funded at 90%, with a local matching share of 10%, the Town will decide whether to commit the additional 40% or if the roadway should be eliminated from the project. Once the PER is complete, design will begin on elements of the extension of Taxiway Bravo northwards from where it currently ends (at Taxiway Foxtrot) to Taxiway Golf, extending Taxiway Golf west from the runway to join the new extension of Taxiway Bravo, extending Taxiway Bravo at its south end to connect to the south end of the runway, and design of a west side service road west of Taxiway Bravo. An exhibit showing the project elements is attached.
Award of the design grant has been previously approved by the Texas Transportation Committee (TTC). Award of the grant funding the first phase of construction will be considered on a future TTC meeting agenda (in Fiscal Year 2022, after TxDOT receives grant funding allocations from FAA). The attached resolution is required before the item can be placed on that agenda. The resolution commits the 10% local match and names the Texas Department of Transportation as the Town's agent for the purposes of applying for, receiving, and disbursing all funds for this project. TxDOT will also be responsible for negotiating the design fee with the Engineer of Record selected by the staff committee.
At this time, there are three phases expected with this project. Phase one includes construction of the Taxiway Bravo extensions and associated improvements, phase two is an extension of Taxiway Bravo to the north end of the runway, and phase three covers the reconstruction and relocation of the existing portion of Taxiway Bravo which will accommodate larger airplanes. The implementation of phases two and three is largely dependent upon available funding. Once the PER has been completed there will be more clarity on anticipated construction costs and schedules for subsequent phases. |