Board of Supervisors authorizes storm culvert, runway repair at Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved plans to refurbish a section of runway pavement and replace a deteriorating culvert at Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport. County officials have been monitoring the runway following an annual inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration, which identified the need for repairs. In response, airport officials took immediate proactive measures to seal the affected areas to prevent further deterioration. 

The permanent repairs approved today, which are expected to cost $667,115, will take 20 hours and are scheduled to take place in early June. The Board awarded the contract to Granite Construction, the lowest bidder. The airport is coordinating with the FAA to mitigate any possible impacts of the work and will communicate with travelers in advance. 

“The County has been proactive in addressing these concerns as a standard part of its maintenance routine,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors, who noted that the airport needed to wait until after the rainy season to do the work. “This is about safety, quality and reliability, not just at the airport but across our County's infrastructure.”

“The safety of the public and employees is the County’s top priority, and we can rest assured that the travel experience at STS will continue to be world-class,” said Supervisor James Gore, whose district includes the airport. “This is good work and well-delivered by staff.”

The FAA conducts annual audits at all active airports with airline service in the United States and provides a checklist of required improvements to ensure compliance with federal safety regulations. The repairs approved by the Board today will ensure continued compliance with FAA safety and operating standards. Repairs include reconstruction of a 24-inch culvert that crosses under the runway, and milling four inches of existing pavement to place new asphalt in an area of the runway where rainwater has been ponding. 

For more information about upcoming runway projects at Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport, or for general airport information, please visit https://sonomacountyairport.org/ or call (707) 565-7243.

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Media Contacts:
Dan Virkstis, communications specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org 
(707) 565-3040

Jon Stout, airport manager
Jon.Stout@Sonoma-County.org 
(707) 565-7243