A group of important infrastructure and service improvements at the airport are reaching fruition. Airport commissioners and management have sketched out an ambitious plan to address long-term needs, many of which depend on federal and state grants.

Taxiway “Alpha” Relocation Done. In November 2014, work concluded on the reconstruction and replacement of the aircraft taxiway adjacent to Runway 15/33, parallel to Barnstable Road. The taxiway was moved away from the center of the runway to afford an added margin of safety to moving aircraft. As part of the same project, the airport finished the second phase of the aircraft parking apron renewal on the airfield side of the passenger terminal.

Air Service Marketing. With the resounding success of the 2014 season’s daily JetBlue service to JFK in New York, JetBlue will be returning for the 2015 season. The airport is continuing to shop for new additional air carriers – to offer scheduled and charter service beyond New York, Boston, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.  Consultant Daniel Fortnam of Marstons Mills is making presentations to candidate airlines across the country. He is outlining the case for Hyannis as a hub that can satisfy public demands for expanded service. Additionally, the airport is stepping up efforts to generate new revenue from real estate holdings inside and outside the airfield fence.

East Ramp Reconstruction Complete. The airfield’s East Ramp (parallel to Mary Dunn Way) has been fully reconstructed. The project was completed in late September 2014, ahead of schedule and within budget.

Airfield Solar Panels. Nearly 20 acres of ground-based panels to collect the sun’s energy and generate electricity have been installed on the airfield. The next step is for Eversource (formerly NSTAR) to make a connection to its grid. This may happen in the late winter/early spring of 2015. Electricity generated by the panels will be used to power airport and town water facilities and resold to third parties through the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative. When fully in use, the panels are expected to shrink the airport’s carbon footprint, reduce its electricity costs by more than 17 percent and provide more than $7 million in revenue over 20 years.

Eversource (NSTAR) Cable Upgrade. Work is underway on the installation of a new high-capacity electric cable on the airfield, along its easement between Mary Dunn Road, near A-1-A Steel, to Mary Dunn Way off Route 28. A conduit for the cable has been installed underneath one runway and the new East Ramp. The cable itself may be installed in spring 2015, to provide added capacity to businesses and homes in Hyannis and Yarmouth.

Centralized Deicing. Work is underway on a new centralized deicing pad that will replace three others now scattered around the airfield. The state-of-the-art facility will reduce the use of hazardous materials. It will incorporate an environmentally-friendly process to automatically collect and separate fluids and route them directly into the town’s sewer system. Deicing fluids now have to be vacuumed manually before they are deposited into the sewer. The pad is expected to be finished in early 2015.

Above-ground Fuel Storage. The airport is poised to award a contract to build a 60,000-gallon, above-ground, environmentally-friendly jet fuel storage center. It will replace a 20-year-old underground tank which has one-third of the capacity of the new one. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2015. Construction funding will come from the airport’s enterprise fund reserves.

Taxiway “Charlie” Relocation. Preliminary design and scoping for the reconstruction and replacement of the aircraft taxiway adjacent to Runway 6/24 (parallel to Yarmouth Road) is underway, with reconstruction planned for early fall 2015, pending receipt of FAA funds. The taxiway is being moved away from the center of the runway to afford an added margin of safety to moving aircraft.

All of this progress will enhance the economic importance of the airport. A just released state economic impact study showed that the airport and its tenants provide more than 2,135 jobs to the region, annual wages and benefits exceeding $85.3 million, and annual goods and services of more than $208 million. There can be no doubt that we are a vital economic engine on Cape Cod.

I enjoy hearing from our passengers and neighbors. Contact me anytime at Roland.Breault@town.barnstable.ma.us.