Galveston council to consider $7.2 million airport upgrades

Mike Shahan, director of Scholes International Airport, points out where drainage work needs to be done at the south end of a runway at the airport Monday.
JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News

The Daily News
By B. SCOTT McLENDON, The Daily News
May 21. 2023

GALVESTON - City council Thursday will consider voting to seek a $5.8 million grant to pay for several upgrades that could pave the way for commercial airliners to land by 2028 at Scholes International Airport.

The projects, which include a taxiway realignment, apron reconstruction and drainage improvements at the airport, 2115 Terminal Drive, are needed to keep operations flying smoothly, Marie Robb, city councilwoman, has said. They could also leave the airport in a position to attract commercial flights Airport Manager Mike Shahan has said.

The funding is offered through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program, which will cover $5.8 million of the $7.2 million project.

The Taxiway E realignment project will cost $3.7 million and would move and reconstruct Taxiway E on the closed runway and decommission existing Taxiway E, according to the proposal from airport administration.

The apron project would reconstruct a section of the airport’s existing ramp to support the static weight of three C-17 aircraft while parked and will cost $1.8 million, according to the proposal.

The drainage enhancements will cost $2 million and make improvements to the south side of the airfield, where it floods frequently, according to the proposal.

If council approves it, construction could start about this time next year, Shahan has said. And should the cost increase, the Federal Aviation Administration likely would give additional money.

The Industrial Development Corp., the entity responsible for spending a portion of the city’s sales tax on economic development, beach remediation, parks or infrastructure, on May 2 voted to contribute the city’s 10 percent of the project cost. The city council on Thursday is set to vote on whether to apply for the $5.8 million grant.

B. Scott McLendon: 409-683-5241; scott.mclendon@galvnews.com