The EA project will address both a runway pavement repair project and a safety area project. There is FAA funding available for runway repair projects but the Runway Safety Area (RSA) must be improved at the same time as a condition of federal funding.
About the Runway: The runway and taxiway pavement at the airport needs to be repaired. Preventive maintenance has been done for 30 years without any significant improvement project. The average lifetime of a runway is 20 years.
Safety Area: The airport does not currently meet FAA design standards for the Runway Safety Area (RSA). The RSA provides a buffer area around the runway that must be kept clear in case an aircraft goes off the runway. While these requirements are not new, the FAA began strictly enforcing the requirements after the 1999 Midway incident.
The FAA requirement that the RSA be brought into compliance as part of the runway improvement project is found in FAA Order 5200.8(10)b.
