by Cassandra Isackson
Director, Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics
The Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will host meetings at regional locations from late August to early October to discuss the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with city officials, airport managers, airport commission members, and airport advisory board members. All interested parties are welcome to join us at these meetings.
The Capital Improvement Program is used to plan for the delivery and construction of projects that develop and preserve the system of Minnesota’s publicly-owned airports. Projects that are CIP eligible include obstruction removal, planning, land acquisition, paving, lighting, navigational aids, equipment purchases, fencing, and other needs.
Each year more projects are identified than are funded.
There are 135 publicly-owned airports in Minnesota, 97 of which qualify for federal funding. MnDOT and the FAA use CIP to allocate limited financial resources to airports. CIP is also a very important planning tool for airports. The more the plan reflects the reality of an airport’s situation, the more likely the funding process will flow smoothly. The best chance of success for any project happens when the airport, MnDOT, and the FAA all agree that the project is necessary and justified.
The CIP update cycle begins in the fall, collecting data from each airport sponsor regarding projects they plan to deliver within the next 5 years. Long-range planning, beyond the 5-year time frame, is also encouraged. Projects are then prioritized statewide for state and federal funding. In early spring, projects at the top of the priority list are offered funding grants. Remember, CIP is not only a great planning tool; it is also a requirement for funding consideration.
As you may know, state or federal funding will not cover all capital improvement costs, so having an accurate and complete CIP helps the local government budget for its share of the proposed costs.
As I close, I ask you to remember that the best likelihood for success is when the FAA, MnDOT Aeronautics, and the airport (local sponsor) all share the same vision for the airport.
If you have additional questions, checkout the resource information on our website at: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/airportdevelopment/cip.html
