Redmond Airport receives $10 million Connect Oregon grant for its major terminal expansion project
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Transportation Commission at its Bend meeting on Thursday approved a $10 million Connect Oregon grant toward the upcoming $180 million renovation and expansion of the Redmond Airport terminal, now set to include a concourse with seven jet bridges.
The grant to the city of Redmond was one of 19 requests that made the cut in the competitive grant process for Connect Oregon 9, the $46 million ninth round of a biennial program that supports multi-modal non-highway aviation, marine and rail projects. A total of 35 applications were received, totaling nearly $93 million, more than double the available money.
(You can review the report and full list of projects at this agenda item (PDF).
The added funding for RDM has not yet been allocated to any specific aspects of the airport project, but it raises the budget to a total $180 million for the terminal expansion, expected to begin late next summer and take two years to complete.
It includes nearly 100,000 square feet of new terminal and a new second-floor concourse, retail concessions, restrooms, Airport Director Zachary Bass said.
Earlier this year, the airport received $7 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for its terminal expansion that will nearly double the building size, also improving energy efficiency and ADA compliance
Bass said they also have a $15 million federal funding request submitted and should learn if they made the cut for that grant around the end of this month.
Various options and alternatives for added features have been identified, depending on how far the funding goes and as details are firmed up, Bass said. One example he mentioned: if there’s another $20 million available, the airport could replace its baggage claim equipment, which is not part of the initial project plans.
After a recent review of options with city councilors, airport officials met with architects last week, and new, more detailed renderings should be available soon, Bass said.
