ST. GEORGE — Plans to build the St. George replacement airport a few miles north of town got the green light Tuesday from the nation's top transportation official.
The decision to put the city's $78 million airport on "fast track" status was announced by Woodie Woodward, associate administrator of airports for the Federal Aviation Administration, during a news conference held at the city's current airport location.
"This is great news for this community," said Woodward, who traveled to St. George from Washington D.C. to announce the decision made by Norman Mineta, U.S. Secretary of Transportation. "I am happy to announce that Secretary Mineta has placed the St. George replacement airport project on our priority project list."
Mineta is authorized through a U.S. presidential executive order to select projects for fast track status, which puts them under the direct supervision of senior federal officials.
"Something is broken when it takes an average of 13 years to complete a new road and 10 years to build a new airport runway," said Mineta in a press release. "The American people want us to ask tough questions and apply tough standards, but they also want us to find a way to fish or cut bait in a reasonable amount of time."
Of the 52 transportation projects submitted for fast track status this year, Mineta selected six for the high level attention. Two other airports, one in Philadelphia and one in Los Angeles, also made the list, Woodward said.
"These projects weren't chosen because they were easy. In fact, we looked for projects that had tough issues that the federal government needed to work through," she said. "The criteria (were) tough, and the St. George project made the cut for many good reasons."
SkyWest Airlines, which is headquartered in St. George, continues to board an increasing number of passengers through its St. George terminal. But the length of the city's single runway limits the size of aircraft that SkyWest can safely fly in and out of the airport. And that constraint alone, said St. George Airport Manager David Ulane, puts a serious roadblock in the city's economic future.
"Over 10 years ago, the city recognized that this airport would not meet its future needs," Ulane said. "It's beautiful and one of the most unique airports in the United States, but it lacks the attributes needed to serve a burgeoning community."
Progress on the replacement airport has been in a holding pattern while an environmental impact study on the potential noise levels over Zion National Park is completed. That report should be ready for public comment by the spring of 2005.
"This environmental impact statement is on an aggressive, tough schedule," said Lowell Johnson, manager of the FAA's northwest mountain regional office. "We think the report will show there would be an indiscernible change in noise levels over the park."
Woodward said the replacement airport's new status, as a high level project, does not mean environmental issues will be overlooked.
"While it is important for us to meet the aviation needs of this region and the state of Utah, we intend to protect the environmental integrity of this area," she said. "It's a careful balance we pledge to uphold for those who live here, and for those who travel here, to experience the natural wonder of St. George."
Thirteen projects were put on fast track status last year, and four have completed the environmental review process, Woodward said.
"This shows that common-sense streamlining and a commitment to projecting our environment can shave years off of the process," she added.
Mayor Dan McArthur, among other local elected officials, said he is hopeful the city can being construction within the next four years.
"It's been very frustrating and discouraging at times," McArthur said. "This puts us on the radar screen of the FAA and the National Park Service."
E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com