Westmoreland covid funds sought for proposed $20M Arnold Palmer terminal expansion

Oct. 21—The Westmoreland County Airport Authority is seeking a $7 million share of covid relief funding the county has received in order to help with a proposed major expansion of the terminal at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

County officials have said federal restrictions on use of the covid-19 pandemic relief dollars would have to be loosened before the authority's request could be honored.

A funding request to support the potential $20 million terminal project has been submitted electronically for inclusion in public comments at an Oct. 28 hearing before the county commissioners. At that hearing, the commissioners will accept input on potential uses of the county's $105 million in covid relief funding, received through the American Rescue Plan Act.

According to its proposal, the authority envisions doubling the size of the terminal at the airport in Unity, with a two-story addition to the north end of the facility. The project would increase the number of passenger boarding bridges from two to four and the security checkpoints from one to two.

The expansion would add more than 14,000 square feet of space on each of the terminal's two floors. It would include areas that could be leased to concession tenants, generating additional revenue for the authority while providing products and services to airport users.

Airport authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo said the proposal is an update of a 2015 master plan that envisioned an expanded terminal with three boarding bridges.

"We were ready to go (with the terminal project) four years ago, and we couldn't come up with the funding," Monzo said. "We're right now at the point where we have $13 million already committed. If we can get the $7 million, based on the covid situation, that will finish it out."

The authority says it has $3 million on hand, generated through airport passenger facility charges, while another $3 million would be drawn from federal aviation entitlements.

An additional $7 million, being sought through a competitive state Bureau of Aviation grant, would require a local match — which is where the county covid relief funding would help.

Commissioners Chairman Sean Kertes said the county has been advised final guidelines for use of its federal covid funding could be issued in late November or early December. Local officials are hoping those guidelines will include a loosening of restrictions that currently wouldn't allow spending on the terminal project.

Kertes noted an expanded terminal at the Arnold Palmer airport has been discussed for a number of years. He said he considers the authority's latest proposal "a very clear indication of what we can do to keep Arnold Palmer Regional Airport a juggernaut for economic growth for years to come."

He added that there "has to be more discussion with the airport authority. They have monies from the state and the federal government, and they need a match from the county to make this a reality."

Studies have indicated that the airport, which has Spirit Airlines as it sole commercial carrier, adds about $226 million annually to the region's economy.

"It was great to see the airport put in the request for ARP funding," Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher said, adding that the funding is "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Westmoreland."

Thrasher indicated she could not comment on any specific request until the final federal restrictions on the funding are released.

"If the airport request is allowable under the federal rules, this will definitely be considered," she said.

While masks are required inside the Arnold Palmer terminal, Monzo said the proposed expansion would help with another strategy for controlling the spread of covid: social distancing.

With just one security checkpoint, he noted, passengers who are preparing to depart are sometimes "lined up through the terminal building, the whole way back to the baggage carousel."

The terminal expansion also would help in the authority's efforts to attract a second airline, Monzo said.

"It's nothing we ever give up on, but I don't think you'll see another airline come in until we have more room," he said.

The authority took initial steps in that direction with the recent addition of its second boarding bridge and expansion of the passenger holding area. It also has widened and strengthened the airport's runway, paving the way for more frequent landings, and easier ones during inclement weather.

Comments on covid funding

The commissioners have scheduled two Oct. 28 hearing sessions — from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. — at Westmoreland County Community College's Science Hall Amphitheater, 145 Pavilion Lane, near Youngwood.

Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required, by visiting co.westmoreland.pa.us/arpahearing before 4 p.m. on Oct. 27.

The same deadline applies for those who can't attend but want to submit written comments. Email comments to ARPAComments@co.westmoreland.pa.us or post them to: Vera Spina, chief clerk, 2 N. Main St., Suite 101, Greensburg, PA 15601.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff at 724-836-6622, jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .