An assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Durango-La Plata County Airport terminal expansion has begun.
Earlier this month, Environmental Protection Agency officials, Southern Ute Indian Tribe environmental planners, La Plata County officials and other local stakeholders met for the first of a series of public meetings to discuss the residual effects of the expansion on the environment and neighboring residents.
Airport Director Kip Turner said the Nov. 4 gathering “got the ball rolling” on public discussions that will continue throughout the assessment’s two-year time frame.
The airport commission will also examine the possibility of changing the airport’s name to reflect its service to the broader region, rather than just La Plata County, and ramp up marketing efforts in the year ahead. The airport’s 2016 budget proposal reflects an increase from $20,000 this year to $60,000 next year for marketing initiatives.
“There is a concerted and well-planned outreach effort,” Turner told the La Plata County Commission in a Tuesday meeting. “In the environmental assessment, the scope of work includes outreach initiatives that talk about what we’re doing with the project to further educate people.”
The airport will likely form a marketing committee to advise on how those extra dollars are spent.
Airport officials are also coordinating with the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance and the Durango Chamber of Commerce to raise awareness before next year’s election when the expansion ballot item would go before voters.
“I think that’s important in moving forward if this goes to a ballot question,” County Commissioner Brad Blake said.
“I think the rule in advertising is someone has to see something six times before they get the whole picture, and I think telling the story is telling it often.”
Turner reported enplanements, or the number of people boarding at the Durango-La Plata County Airport, are down by 2.7 percent year-to-date compared with last year.
Given Frontier Airlines no longer services the airport, Turner considered the figure indicative of the local airport’s strong market.
The airport is also receiving upgrades in the form of new carpeting and seating and fresh paint in the departure lounge as well as an additional advanced imaging technology screening machine, which will speed up lines.
jpace@durangoherald.com