New Braunfels Weighs New Master Plan For Regional Airport

City officials are holding a public workshop on Oct. 30 at Alamo Colleges-Central Texas Technology Center to discuss potential projects, timing, the cost and possible funding sources.

New Braunfels city officials are studying several options, including a public-private partnership (P3), to include in an updated 20-year master plan for a regional airport to handle increasing use by corporate aircraft.

City officials are holding a public workshop on Oct. 30 at Alamo Colleges-Central Texas Technology Center to discuss potential projects, timing, the cost and possible funding sources.

Options to be considered include extending the runway 500 to 1,000 feet, even though the airport would need to acquire more land to extend the runway beyond 500 feet, noted Robert Lee, the airport director.

A longer runway would increase safety and permit larger aircraft to land as well as enable existing aircraft to carry more weight and maximize efficiency. Updating connecting runways to an extended main runway is another option under consideration to include in the master plan.

Other considerations on the table include a P3 to allow restaurants and other small businesses to operate in a new terminal surrounded by additional hangars on the airport’s west side.

New Braunfels would also look at an expansion of the current terminal. Funding options are available from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if plans for the regional airport meet current FAA design standards.

That funding includes FAA grant funds and airport improvement program grants. The New Braunfels Regional Airport is supported by funding through the city and the New Braunfels Economic Development Corp., which provides matching assistance for capital improvements. Cost estimates for the various options are being considered and should be finalized soon.

This article was originally published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc.