Airport receives terminal money

by Eric Olson

SBJ News Editor

eolson@sbj.net

Springfield-Branson Regional Airport officials Aug. 23 received the first of two major appropriations for design of a new $146 million midfield terminal. A $3 million Federal Aviation Administration appropriation will fund phase I design services for the new commercial terminal building, which is under way, said Sherry Wallace, airport spokesperson.

"This was promised to us a year ago. It is now coming in," Wallace said. "The planning money is essential to the success of the new airport's functional design."

Architectural design firm Reynolds, Smith and Hills Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla., has been presenting design concepts to the airport board. The firm was hired in November 2003.

Total design costs are expected to exceed $8 million, Wallace said. Another $4 million federal appropriation is earmarked to fund the final architectural and engineering designs. The city of Springfield is required to match those federal dollars, usually with a 5 percent match. Springfield City Council met in special session Aug. 24 to accept the $3 million appropriation and contribute a match of $157,895 to the design project.

Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt and Sen. Kit Bond won congressional approval for both federal appropriations.

"The best way to guarantee future economic growth is to make sure that our infrastructure is up to par," Bond said in a news release. "These dollars ... are an investment in southwest Missouri's future."

Wallace said the airport is expected to ask for a total of $100 million in federal money.

Before receiving the $3 million appropriation, the airport used a $325,000 federal grant it received in 2001 to fund an environmental assessment. Earlier this summer, the airport received environmental clearance from the FAA to go ahead with the project.