Good afternoon District 27. It has been a busy week of campaigning. Last Thursday I met with Rapid City Regional Airport Executive Director Patrick Dame who provided the legislative candidates with a tour and a detailed briefing on the future plans of the Rapid City Regional Airport Terminal Expansion Project. I was impressed with the progress made, and yet there is much more work to be done under future phases.
The Rapid City Regional Airport is within the exterior boundaries of District 27 and is an integral part of the economic engine of District 27. The regional airport has a service area of 200,000 people, residing in western South Dakota, and parts of eastern Wyoming and Montana. The Rapid City Regional Airport serves as a gateway airport to 14 to 24 non-stop destinations within the United States, depending on time of year. The airport provides passenger air service for tourists who are destined for the Black Hills, Badlands National Park, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. In 2023, the total passenger air service was 702,581 (enplanements and deplanements of passengers) and the airport is currently on track with another record-breaking year in 2024 with an estimated 808,000 passengers emplaning and deplaning. Approximately 65% of all passenger traffic occurs during the summer peak season.
During the 2024 Legislative Session, under Senate Bill 144, the legislature agreed to budget $10 million for airport development. The Rapid City Regional Airport received $3,047,126 of these SD Airport Terminal Program (ATP) budgeted funds; a fraction of the construction improvement funds required to complete the Terminal Expansion Project. For comparison purposes, the North Dakota legislature, during its 2024 legislative session, allocated $20 million for airport expansion improvements. The Rapid City Regional Airport Project 1 is estimated to cost $83.8 million.
Under Project 1, the airport is expanding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) areas to accommodate the anticipated influx in passenger service to the airport by creating 4 to 5 TSA checkpoint luggage screening stations to improve passenger flow. This project also includes upgrading the outdated “back-of-house” baggage screening operations to ensure the bags reach the aircraft to maintain an on-time departure. The antiquated system appears dysfunctional during peak boarding periods and has not been improved since the advent of TSA baggage screening. Project 1 will enhance employee safety and efficiency by improving the “back-of-house” screened luggage area.
Under Project 2, the airport plans to add five new gates with a set design for 737 aircraft usage. The project also includes increasing the passenger hold room areas to better accommodate the needs of passengers flying into and out of the airport. Project 2 is estimated to cost $104.2 million. Note: Terminal Expansion Projects typically are funded with 50% local and 50% federal, at best.
As one can see, the Rapid City Regional Airport Executive Director has a lot on his plate to ensure the taxpayer’s money is used effectively and prudently. Obviously, the executive director has made it a priority to improve the overall operational efficiency of the airport with the anticipated increase in air traffic flow. Inevitably, there are budgetary restraints on his ability to carry out the plans put forth to improve the airport's operational efficiency. Therefore, if elected your state senator, I will mindfully be attentive to the legislative budgetary requirements that come across my desk and prioritize those projects that have an effective plan in place when it comes time to allocate the taxpayer’s dollars.
As a registered professional engineer who has managed multiple projects with tight budgets exceeding millions of dollars, I can attest to the importance of partnering with federal, state, tribal, and local governments for matching dollars. Moreover, planning is critical when selling a project for funding purposes. If there is no plan in place, then why should the state or local government be asked to fund your project with taxpayer dollars? Big ideas are only implemented when there is a plan in place and there is a reason to believe the project will benefit the greater good. The Rapid City Regional Airport Executive Director has taken the necessary steps in hiring architects and engineer consultants to ensure there is a plan in place to anticipate the inevitable future growth of Rapid City and Western South Dakota. I applaud their efforts. The question is: Do you, the taxpayer, support this expenditure of your hard-earned tax money? With many competing interests vying for money from state coffers, it will be a difficult decision when prioritizing which government programs get the majority of the taxpayer’s dollars. As a fiscal conservative, I don’t spend what I don’t have. Therefore, state programs that do not serve as a benefit to the taxpayer will not be given consideration. It is the legislator’s job to act prudently when allocating the taxpayer’s dollars while keeping their interests in mind. Enjoy your week. God bless.
Comentários