BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Bucyrus City Finance Committee has decided to postpone plans for the resurfacing of the airport runway to focus on developing a new terminal at Bucyrus Airport. During a recent meeting, the Service Committee tabled proposed legislation that would have accepted bids for the runway project. The legislation can be revisited at a future date.
Ben Cooley, Aviation Manager for Crawford, Murray, and Tilly, a Columbus-based engineering consultant, presented to the Finance Committee last Wednesday, outlining the need for improvements at Bucyrus Airport. He emphasized that recent legislative changes, particularly the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2022, have opened up significant funding opportunities for airport infrastructure enhancements.
Historically, airports have relied on Non-Primary Entitlement (NPE) grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which have been capped at $150,000. In Crawford County, these funds have been pooled over the years in preparation for necessary airport updates. However, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $15 billion specifically for airport improvements, establishing a competitive grant program known as the Airport Terminal Program (ATP), aimed at addressing critical issues in airport terminals nationwide. After three years of applying for the grant, the Bucyrus Airport was approved with the largest portion of funding for a new terminal paid for with grant dollars.
The current terminal building at Bucyrus Airport faces numerous challenges, including being outdated, energy inefficient, and situated too close to the existing taxiway, which restricts aircraft movement. The FAA has indicated that these design flaws necessitate the terminal’s replacement and the relocation of associated airfield infrastructure.
To facilitate this transition, AIP funding is expected to cover most of the new terminal’s construction costs, while additional funding for related infrastructure needs—such as a parking lot, access road, and aircraft parking pavement—will be sought through other FAA/AIP grants.
Kevin DeTray of DeTray Aviation informed the committee that the FAA recommended putting the runway resurfacing project on hold to prioritize the design and implementation of the new terminal. To qualify for federal funding, DeTray noted that design and bidding for the terminal construction must commence soon, with plans required to be finalized by May.
The estimated cost for the terminal design is $150,000, with the city’s portion amounting to $28,523. Bucyrus City Auditor Kali Lewis indicated that the funds earmarked for runway resurfacing could be redirected to cover most of the city’s share of the design fee. However, she raised concerns about securing the city’s portion of the estimated $1.9 million total cost for the terminal project—approximately $300,000—in the 2025 budget.
Lewis is currently finalizing the rough draft of the 2025 budget, and once completed, the council will have a clearer picture of how to proceed with both the terminal project and the runway resurfacing.
As Bucyrus Airport looks to modernize its facilities, the focus on compliance with FAA standards and the pursuit of federal funding marks a pivotal step towards enhancing safety and service for travelers in the region. The new terminal will also serve as an important hub for interested investors to fly in and determine if they can locate business and industry in the Bucyrus area. Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing story.