Pitkin County runway modernization advances: design, earthwork and funding pots detailed

Pitkin County’s runway modernization program moved forward in staff updates on Jan. 13 as finance and design teams presented schedule, funding sources, and early engineering choices to commissioners and the Airport Advisory Board.

Finance director Liz Woods and program staff explained that runway and terminal programs are budgeted separately. Sources identified for the runway include AIG discretionary funds from the federal infrastructure bill (a pot with roughly $9.6 million banked for the county), FAA entitlement funds (approximately $2.5 million in entitlement balance reported), PFCs (passenger facility charges) and CFCs (customer facility charges) and possible discretionary FAA funding requests. Presenters stressed that FAA guidance requires runway-designated funds to be used for runway purposes only.

Design leads reported completion of the 15% runway design and described site-level choices to balance earthwork. The team estimated roughly 500,000–600,000 cubic yards of cut material will be generated to raise runway profile at the north threshold (approximately a 10-foot vertical change at the threshold). The program’s goal is to achieve net-zero export by recycling existing pavement and subgrade material on-site to reduce cost, schedule impacts and haul-related environmental effects.

To accommodate the runway profile shift and a new paved operational area (the teacup), the design shows a realignment of Owl Creek Road to the west. Staff stated the shift would be confined to the current right-of-way and emphasized they do not anticipate impacting open space. The design also calls for a US Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit to extend Owl Creek (a culvert/stream that runs under the runway) and coordination to move an existing AWOS/ASOS weather station to avoid conflicts with taxiway realignment.

Procurement activity is underway: the county is in a procurement step for a construction manager at risk, with shortlist activity expected and a goal to get the CMAR under contract in April so enabling work (including Owl Creek Road reconstruction) can be priced and scheduled in 2026–2027. Staff said they expect to seek guaranteed maximum prices for early enabling work in 2026 and aim to construct Owl Creek Road early in the enabling sequence, with an anticipated construction window of roughly June–November depending on contracting and FAA concurrence.

Board members pressed for clarifications on volume, hauling and whether the county landfill would accept any excess material; presenters reiterated the net-zero export aim and intent to process and reuse material on-site where feasible. Staff also noted coordination with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for a potential $250,000/year contribution toward local match, and that FAA funding rates shift from 95% to 90% in the program’s later years, making local match planning important.

County staff said runway-related grants and reimbursables will come forward to the BOCC as action items in future meetings.