Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

An Airport Master Plan is a study that follows a regimented process defined by the FAA. The purpose of the study is to identify short and long-term needs of the airport, tenants, users, and the public. The data collected is then used to create a development plan forecasted over a 20-year planning horizon.

Planning takes place at a national, state, regional, and local level. The plan is formulated based on overall transportation demands and is coordinated with other transportation planning and comprehensive land use planning initiatives.

The Master Plan deliverables are two distinct documents; the airport layout plan (ALP) and the technical report. The ALP presents the concepts of development graphically in a series of drawings while the technical report speaks to the data and logic upon which the concepts are based.

In 2012, CLE conducted an update to the existing Master Plan (circa 2000). Since then, the airport and the industry have made significant changes in direction and practices. CLE has experienced growth in recent years, with more visitors coming through the front door than ever before. In addition, CLE introduced multiple new carriers to the field and adopted changes in accordance with federal regulation. These factors, among others, led CLE to find a new direction and a plan to meet the needs of the stakeholders and the community.

The City of Cleveland has awarded a contract to RS&H to develop a new Master Plan for CLE. RS&H was selected from a national competitive bidding process to carry out the study. RS&H, and sub-consultants thereof, will work closely with the City of Cleveland to complete the study.

Additional sub-consultant team members include:

  • CCI Engineering Services, Inc.
  • Cosmos Technologies, Inc.
  • DAR Public Relations, Inc.
  • G&T Associates, Inc.
  • McGuiness Unlimited Inc.
  • Van Auken Akin Architects, LLC
  • Transolutions
  • Garver, LLC
  • Curtis Transportation Consulting, LLC
  • Leo A. Daly
  • Mead & Hunt Inc.
  • BNP Associates, Inc.

The Cleveland Airport System is an enterprise fund of the City of Cleveland, meaning that it is a self-sustaining operation. All revenues earned by the airport must be spent solely for airport purposes. No local tax dollars are used to fund any projects or operations at the airport. The airport is funded by non-aviation related revenues (i.e., concessions and parking), aviation revenues (i.e., rents and landing fees), and federal grants.

The Master Plan Study will be funded under a general airport revenue bond. The fee for the project is $4.5 million dollars.

The current timeline forecasts completion of the study in the first quarter of 2021.

The components of an Airport Master Plan Study include:

  • An inventory of existing facilities and collection of current activity
  • Development of an aviation activity forecast
  • Determination of future facility requirements
  • Creation of alternative development concepts
  • Development of a financial implementation plan
  • An Environmental review to identify implementation actions
  • Creating the Airport Layout Plan documents in accordance with federal design standards

Before the Federal Aviation Administration can consider an airport eligible to receive federal funds, the airport must be included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). With CLE included on this list, eligible capital improvement projects must be shown on the Airport Layout Plan and further justified by the Technical Report.

CLE and RS&H will work to balance airside and landside demands of the facility while optimizing and positioning the airport in a manner that it can efficiently respond to future opportunities.

CLE’s existing airfield sufficiently meets current aircraft operational demands. The current use of the parallel runways 6R/24L, 6L/24R and the crosswind runways, runway RWY 10/28, are not likely to change. In the same way, it is also unlikely that CLE will look to construct any additional runways in the foreseeable future.

Capacity in landside operations continues to create frustration among our passengers. We recognize the congestion in our parking facilities, roadways, ticketing and security screening areas of the facility and will be working to remedy the situation. Landside capacity will be an area of primary focus during this study.

In addition, many of the aeronautical businesses located on the field are looking to grow! A comprehensive and organized approach to development will be defined as part of the Master Plan.

Have a suggestion or comment? Let us know! Comments can be submitted via the comments page or in person at one of our future public workshops.

Concourse D will be given consideration during the study. At this time, it is too early to speculate what will become of it.

The Master Plan will identify projects which may be implemented at varying times known as “triggers” over the next 20-year period. Prior to implementation, each project will undergo individual analysis including environmental review through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Additionally, funding must be secured for each project prior to implementation. Funding sources may include FAA, ODOT, City of Cleveland or other sources.

Projects recommended in the Master Plan would generally be funded from a variety of sources including FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, airport funds, passenger facility charges, and general airport revenue bonds. Improvement projects at CLE are not funded with taxpayer dollars.

Comments on the Master Plan are welcome throughout the project. Comments can be submitted via the comments page. All comments will be reviewed and considered. Additionally, the public will have the opportunity to provide comments at several open house workshops held throughout the Master Planning process. The meetings will be advertised locally and posted on the workshops page.

Questions or Comments?

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5300 Riverside Dr., Cleveland, OH 44135