Report Prepared by: Karen Baker, Economic Development Associate, Merced Yosemite Regional Airport
Title
SUBJECT: Update on the Airport Terminal Replacement Project
REPORT IN BRIEF
Update on the Airport Terminal Replacement Project
RECOMMENDATION
Information only-no action required
DISCUSSION
On June 15, 2020, the City of Merced accepted a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Grant for the Airport in the amount of $3,364.156. The grant is designed to assist airports with Operations and Maintenance expenses for the next four years. The grant provides an opportunity for the Airport and City to plan and carry out future Airport Improvement Projects based on the revenues acquired during each Fiscal Year.
On July 6, 2022, the City of Merced authorized a supplemental appropriation from the unreserved unencumbered fund balance in Fund 561, Airport Operations, in the amount not to exceed $600,000. Of the $600,000 requested in the supplemental appropriation, $350,000 was used as pre-grant funding to pay for a Commercial Airport Terminal Planning Study (CATPS) to evaluate modification of the existing terminal building or construction of a new terminal building adjacent to the existing terminal building. The CATPS addresses the short-term and long-term terminal area development needs and provides a program for practical implementation In August 2022, the City of Merced accepted a grant from the FAA Airport Improvement program (AIP) in the amount of $331,644 as post-funding of the CATPS.
The existing terminal building was constructed in 1946 and has had a few upgrades and improvements. It is approximately 5,000 SF; per current standards, the terminal is undersized physically and electrically. MCE is proposing to replace the current commercial service terminal through the construction of a new commercial service terminal building. The new terminal would support anticipated aircraft operations identified in the FAA approved Terminal Area Forecast (TAF). The new terminal building would be approximately 12,000 SF and constructed in accordance with FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150, 5300-13B, Airport Design.
City Staff received Categorial Exclusion approval on March 29, 2023, from the FAA. The City of Merced Engineering staff posted the bid for the Terminal on March 30, 2023, and it closed on April 27, 2023. A pre-bid meeting was held on April 11, 2023 for contractors interested in submitting a proposal. In June of 2023, City staff received notification from the FAA that they would be receiving additional funding to fund the new terminal. The Merced Yosemite Regional Airport Terminal Replacement Project will be going out for Re-bid due to a second contractor bid protest. A Pre-Bid meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, for contractors interested in submitting a proposal. The Bid opening will be on September 6, 2023, with the contract awarded on September 18, 2023. Mobilization and construction are scheduled to begin on October 2, 2023.
Updates will be provided by Staff.