Yakima Terminal Master Plan Ready for Takeoff

The new master plan for the Yakima Air Terminal includes a longer runway, new terminal building and additional general aviation facilities as projections show passenger growth doubling by 2030.

Airport authorities say the document is long overdue, with the last master plan dating back to 1996 and not updated in nearly a decade, the Yakima Herald Republic reports, but it is now under review for approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA.)

The majority of the $500,000 plan cost was paid for with an FAA grant because the project is outlined in the master plan, which is essential for a project to be funded by the FAA.

The interim airport manager, Rob Petersen, hopes the FAA can approve the plan by the end of this summer for implementation this fall.

Petersen says the feedback from city officials has been positive so far while they also gathered feedback from stakeholders, including private pilots and community members.

The airport worked with URS Corp. in Seattle and Yakima engineering firm Huibregtse, Louman Associates Inc. to develop the plan for the terminal, which hasn't seen a major renovation in more than a decade.

Click on the blue button to be linked to the master plan outline on the Yakima Air Terminal website: