GET A PIECE OF THE ROCK
It’s time to jump off “the steppingstone” and move up to bigger, brand new rock at the Bishop Airport.
Inyo County recently presented conceptual plans for a new, 36,200 square foot terminal at the airport to replace the two-building combo that currently handles passenger ticketing, baggage screening and a waiting area. The very cute outdoor box for baggage claim would also be replaced with an indoor baggage claim system. A 52,000-square foot parking lot would also be part of the terminal upgrade.
The current terminal “was always a steppingstone” to the eventual development of a more substantial building to serve passengers on commercial flights, said Ashley Helms, the county deputy public works director/airports at the Oct. 13 Board of Supervisors meeting.
The current number of passengers using the airport and even modest increases in passenger numbers in the coming years make the current terminal setup inadequate, she said. The existing brick terminal building is about 500 square feet, and the structural fabric (tent) building, added in 2021 is about 3,000 square feet. The county waited to create firm plans to replace the current terminal after commercial air service had started at the airport and then proved to be a success, she noted.
The initial cost estimate for the terminal project comes in at $27.2 million, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expected to pay about $20.7 million for the job. That leaves “a substantial local match” of about $6.5 million. Helms said the county would look to its “partners” in the commercial air service operation to step up to contribute to that local match. Said partners include the City of Bishop, Mono County, Mammoth Lakes Tourism, and Mammoth Mountain.
In addition, the apron in front of the new terminal will have to be upgraded and enlarged so it can accommodate four “regional jets.” The apron work would cost an estimated $9.6 million, with FAA pitching in $8.64 million, and a local match of $960,000.
Helms stressed the cost estimates and FAA matching funds could change as the terminal work evolves.
Some parts of the terminal space might not be eligible for the FAA match, usually the non-public “revenue producing areas,” such as car rental counters and a planned cafe. The county and FAA will have a better idea of the money combination when 30-60% of the design work is complete.
“We’re lucky that the FAA supports the project,” she said. The supervisors unanimously approved a letter to the FAA supporting the terminal work.
Some of the passenger estimates in coming years were “a little optimistic,” Helms said. They included luring more commercial airlines to fly into Bishop, using large aircraft, and adding more destinations, ranging from San Diego to Houston. Under those rosy scenarios, passenger numbers would go from 13,200 in 2025 to 44,000 in 2035. The county’s airport planning consultant, H.W. Lochner, developed those projections and one of its subcontractors, Gensler, came up with the design concept for the terminal.
For planning, only the lower “base enplanement” numbers were used. The base numbers are 13,200 passengers in 2025; with 16,900 in 2026; and 19,400 in 2030; and 23,000 in 2035. Helms pointed out this year’s passenger total will likely hit 18,500, topping the initial estimate.
The environmental document has been started by the FAA. It is based on the 36,200 square foot terminal building, but the building could be smaller. The terminal would include: an open floor plan with three gate lounges; outdoor terraces; up to two security checkpoint lanes; up to two baggage claim carousels; office space for TSA, airlines and airport operations; and concession/retail space before and after security.
The work would also include the new apron, rerouting access roads, the parking lot, installing utilities, a septic system and perimeter fencing.
When asked for a possible completion date if everything went smoothly and without any delays, Helms said, with no promise attached, maybe December of 2029 or early 2030.
