Airport Improvement Program March 11, 1988

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1.2 PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED ACTION The existing airport currently serves the needs of the Anoka - Ramsey -Elk River area. It has been identified as a minor airport in the regional system in the 1978 Metropolitan Council's Aviation Guide and in the 1987 update. As a privately owned airport, however, the likelihood of the facility's conti- nued ability to meet demands are uncertain. This is due primarily to development pressure, the resultant increasing tax burden on the owners of the current facility, lack of facilities to meet demand expectations and lack of capital to improve the facility. These same pressures have forced and continue to force privately owned public use airports around the country to close. The proposed improvements would provide a municipally owned facility which meets state and federal standards for a Basic Utility II airport. The 3300' runway length would be capable of serving most single engine and light twin engine aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds. As proposed, the airport would complement the regional system (Figure 1-3) and if converted to municipal ownership, would provide the long-term capability to meet local service area demands. Aviation Activity Forecasts Table 1-1 presents a synopsis of the activity forecasts generated in the Master Plan Study. The forecasts indicate that the airport will experience steady growth both in numbers of based aircraft and annual operations with the proposed improvements. The forecasts also indicate an increasing proportion of itinerant flights with the facility improvements. TABLE 1-1 HIGHLIGHTS OF AVIATION ACTIVITY FORECASTS GATEWAY NORTH INDUSTRIAL AIRPORT Baseline 1984 1990 1995 2005 Number of Based Aircraft 12 25 35 52 Itinerant Operations 1,280 5,325 9,940 20,310 Local Operations 7,240 12,425 14,910 16,610 Total Operations 8,520 17,700 24,800 36,900 Itinerant Passengers 3,250 13,250 24,750 41,500 1-4