Hillsboro Airport Parallel Runway Project
Construction of a parallel runway at Hillsboro Airport, planned for late summer 2010, is on hold while legal challenges are under review by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The runway was identified in the 2005 Hillsboro Airport Master Plan and Compatibility Study Update as a way to reduce congestion and improve efficiency at HIO. In December 2009, after a 15-month process, the Port completed the draft environmental assessment of the proposed runway, with plans to implement the recommendation in 2010 if the project received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The environmental assessment looked at several alternatives to the runway proposal, and thoroughly analyzed potential environmental impacts, including air emissions, noise, traffic, and effects on wetlands and wildlife. The environmental review process also included a 43-day public comment period and numerous public meetings.
In January 2010, the FAA issued a "finding of no significant impact," or FONSI, which cleared the way for federal funding. A FONSI is issued when the environmental effects of a public project are not considered to be significant. A group of community members disagreed with that assessment and in June 2010 filed a lawsuit asking that the decision be sent back to the FAA for further analysis. In February 2011, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on the case, and a ruling will be issued later this year. Construction plans have been modified to account for the lawsuit.
A plan to construct a new taxiway at HIO is moving ahead in summer 2011. The taxiway has utility for current aviation activities at HIO independent of serving the proposed runway. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the environmental review of the project have been advised of the Port's plan to proceed with taxiway construction this year.
The runway project is made possible by federal and state grants. The Port has received $9.65 million from the Federal Aviation Administration and $4.0 million from ConnectOregon III, a state program to help fund non-road transportation projects. The total approved project budget is currently $17.2 million, which includes costs for the Environmental Assessment and wetland mitigation.
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