Washington’s City Council, during its meeting Monday, accepted the Beaufort County Comprehensive Transportation Plan recommendations and problem statements — after making sure proposed improvement projects at Warren Field Airport will be added to the plan.
The plan was developed over two years by the Mid-East Regional Planning Organization, according to Bryant Buck with the Mid-East Commission, a regional planning organization that works with area counties and municipalities.
“Just recently, one thing that I would like to add to this plan, just recently at a Mid-East RPO meeting, a representative from the airport was present — Mr. Gil Alligood. Discussion ensued about the inclusion of the Washington airport in this comprehensive plan,” Buck told the council. “After discussion with the engineer from the state, it was decided there would be inclusion in the document portion of this plan. What you have before you this evening are the maps. A report and document will be coming out following these maps. There will be inclusion on the airport in that document. I just want you to rest assured that the importance and significance of our airport will be recognized in the document portion of this plan.”
Alligood. Chairman of the city’s airport advisory board, told the council that state transportation officials told him that only projects identified in the state’s transportation improvement plan would be eligible for funding from the N.C. Department of Transportation. Not including proposed airport projects in the Beaufort County transportation plan would put state funding for those projects in jeopardy, he said.
“I would caution you to carefully review the plan … to ensure the airport’s needs, that you perceive, are included,” Alligood said. “Without those needs being included in the plan, no grant funds from DOT can be received.”
The airport is a valuable resource for the community, he said.
“It has been underutilized for a number of years.” Alligood said. “There seems to be some renewed interest in the airport by the business and commerce of the area. … Warren Field can be a significant contribution to the economy of the community.”
Alligood concluded by saying, “City staff, the advisory board, community members and airport users are determined to see the airport arrive at its potential.”