Ocean Shores committee moves AWOS siting into state capital plan process

The Ocean Shores Municipal Airport Advisory Committee on May 19 reviewed a WSDOT capital-improvement entry that would fund a preliminary engineering study to identify a permanent site for the airport's Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS).

Scott, the meeting presenter, told the committee that “it's a total $150,000 project. 7,500 is coming from the state. The rest is coming from the FAA,” and said the work would cover preliminary engineering and analysis to determine AWOS siting.

Why it matters: the AWOS location affects future hangar placement and pavement decisions. Members said the committee cannot finalize plans for future hangar construction until a permanent AWOS site is selected because the AWOS footprint constrains apron and hangar locations.

Scott reviewed the WSDOT listing and highlighted that the department is funding multiple airport pavement and apron projects across the region this year and that several other airports are receiving AWOS installations in the same cycle. Committee discussion also referenced emerging infrastructure topics: Scott noted the master-record process is starting to include items for VTOL and electric-aircraft charging stations, which the group flagged as future planning considerations.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the WSDOT entry; staff said the item will remain in the capital plan materials and that the group will track engineering results and cost estimates as they arrive. Scott and staff will continue coordination with Century West and with city public-works staff on the project.