Brookings has a small public airport that's not designed for commercial air traffic. Fortunately though for area residents and visitors, nearby Crescent City CA is served by SkyWest (United)--three flights a day (though one may soon be cut). That's saves a beautiful though not necessarily relaxing couple-hour drive to Coos Bay or Medford...or Eureka CA. This helps explain why Oregon might spend some money helping to upgrade the facilities at Crescent City's airport.
Regional Border Coast Airport Authority members voted Thursday to apply for a $7 million grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation to help pay for a new terminal at Del Norte County Airport.
The total cost of the project is expected to be $20-25 million.
The local airport is managed by a joint powers agreement that includes representatives of Crescent City, Del Norte County, the Elk Valley Rancheria and Brookings.
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In a similar situation, ODOT gave money to the The Dalles Municipal Airport, which is located across the Columbia River in Washington state, he added.
The grant would come from ConnectOregon, a $100 million program to improve transportation in Oregon, explained Jim Aboytes, the project manager for the replacement terminal.
ConnectOregon III, which is funded with lottery bonds, also supports rail, public transportation, and ports.
At least 10 percent of the funds will go to each region of Oregon, and 5 percent will be allocated for rural airports alone, Aboytes said.
There was not a lot of competition last year for the region Brookings is in, Bernard said. Airport projects in Coos Bay and Medford were funded.
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The airport board's coastal development permit from the county is likely to be appealed, Bernard said, because of a concern about cutting down trees to build the new terminal.
A biologist with the California Coastal Commission will be looking at the woods next week to determine if it's an environmentally sensitive habitat area, he said. Bernard added that the Coastal Commission is willing to work out a compromise.
Wonder what the CCC's going rate is for a compromise?
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