By Michaela Martin
This article is part of a companion series to “Engines of Economic Development: West Virginia’s Airports,” which appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of West Virginia Executive magazine.
Nestled in the heart of Monongalia County, the Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) is a hub for corporate and commercial air travel in North Central West Virginia. The airport is operated by the City of Morgantown and offers commercial connections with two of the East Coast’s largest airports: Pittsburgh International and Baltimore-Washington International.
MGW is the busiest airport in the state based on the number of flights, but it also has the shortest runway of all commercial carrier airports in the state. That won’t be the case much longer, though, as big changes are in the works to enhance aviation safety, increase economic development and provide improved air service to the ever-growing Morgantown community.
In December, MGW began a 1,001-foot runway extension project that will take approximately five years to complete and will pave the way for the development of the I-68 Commerce Park. Together, these projects represent one of the most significant economic development projects in the history of the city. Local officials have worked for the past decade to turn the dream of the runway extension project into a reality by submitting appropriate documentation and receiving concurrence from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In 2019, the City of Morgantown received concurrence on the environmental assessment and benefit/cost analysis, which was the final hurdle before construction could begin.
These upcoming improvements follow the recent installation of 35 new T-hangars in April 2019, the opening phase project of the airport improvement efforts. The $4.6 million city-funded project made the increase of business at the airport possible by accommodating and increasing the number of aircraft housed there. The previous T-hangars, built in the 1930s, were in disrepair and lacked modern amenities. They were demolished in early 2020, creating space for future development.
Improved Safety and Enhanced Service
The current length of the runway at MGW is 5,199 feet, which means it can only handle smaller corporate jets and single- and twin-engine aircraft. Inclement weather, such as snow or fog, makes the already short runway even more difficult for jet operators to land. This means commercial planes and jets are less inclined to land at MGW. The goal of the runway extension project is to enhance and modernize the airport’s facilities to maintain current operations, recruit new business and improve safety at the airport. The runway extension project will add 1,001 feet to the runway, bringing the total length to 6,200 feet and allowing the airport to accommodate mid-size jets and larger aircraft that are equipped with the latest technology.
“There is a lot of growth in the city right now, and West Virginia University (WVU) is rapidly expanding,” says Jon Vrabel, director of MGW. “The extension of the runway is really about increasing safety for current users and recruiting new business. It will allow additional corporations to move into the future I-68 Commerce Park and use the airport for their operations. The expansion will benefit not only the city but also WVU and the greater Morgantown community.”
The runway extension project is expected to cost approximately $50 million. In April 2020, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin announced that the airport would receive more than $7 million in FAA Airport Improvement Program and CARES Act funding. The senators announced a second round of funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation in July 2020 of just over $1.9 million. This capital will be used to help cover the property acquisition, design and construction costs for the first year of the project.
A Plan of Action
Construction of the runway extension will be executed in five phases. Phase one will consist of building the main part of the base and will center on moving 4.4 million cubic yards of soil from the future site of the I-68 Commerce Park to the base of the runway. Phases 2-4 will focus on building the runway to its desired height, and Phase 5will focus on laying pavement and will require temporary closure of the runway to allow the pavement to set. There is not an anticipated timeframe of the closure yet, but an announcement will be made once the project moves into the final phase.
“We plan to rehabilitate the rest of the runway once the extension is complete. We then will focus on improving the terminal building by modernizing its technology and the aesthetics,” says Vrabel. “We’re really excited about the future and providing better service to our customers and our community.”
The I-68 Commerce Park
The construction of the I-68 Commerce Park is made possible through the extension of the MGW runway. Thanks to the ongoing collaboration between the City of Morgantown, Monongalia County and the Monongalia County Development Authority, the planning process of the I-68 Commerce Park is beginning to take shape.
“The idea of the Commerce Park looked like a great public-private partnership opportunity for the affiliated groups,” says Russell Rogerson, president and CEO of the Morgantown Area Partnership. “The partnership between three separate groups that are working together to achieve similar goals is unique. The city, county and Monongalia County Development Authority have been instrumental in the commerce park project.”
The idea for the commerce park stemmed from the initial discussions of the runway extension. The construction of the runway requires an immense amount of soil to form the base of the extension. Most of the soil needed for the runway extension project will come from the leveling of the commerce park site.
“The land that is directly associated with the runway extension project will generate around 90 acres of pad ready land for the commerce park,” says Rogerson. “Utilizing materials from one project into another really offers two benefits out of the same action and stretches funds to enhance other aspects of the project.”
Development of the I-68 Commerce Park will take place following the start of construction on the runway extension, which is expected to begin in 2021. Once construction begins, the planning process for the commerce park will be put into action and a timeline will be set for development. These projects are critical to economic development and continued growth in the region. With these large-scale developments taking place, there is no doubt that MGW and the greater Morgantown community will take off.
About the Author
Michaela Martin is the communications specialist for the City of Morgantown, where she assists in the development and implementation of public affairs, marketing, branding and other integrated communication plans. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from West Virginia University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications. In her free time, Martin enjoys yoga, rock climbing and volunteering.
