Pullman airport offers $15.3 million for WSU land

The Washington State University Board of Regents will consider a $15.3 million land acquisition offer from the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport during a meeting Wednesday.

The airport’s runway realignment project, which will bring the runway into compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, broke ground last summer. The runway’s new alignment puts the Runway Protection Zone over WSU research facilities.

Tony Bean, executive director for the airport, said the Pullman City Council will consider a similar resolution soon, most likely next month.

Bean said 28 various buildings will need to be relocated when the land acquisition is approved.

The realignment project could cost up to $119 million and is scheduled to be completed in 2019, Bean said. While the new runway is expected to be usable by 2019, Bean said more work is anticipated to continue into 2020 as a result of the project.

The airport prepared an appraisal and relocation study determining the fair market value of land to be acquired for the realignment project, according to information provided in the Board of Regents’ agenda. The airport provided an offer to WSU in March 2016 and WSU presented a counter offer to the airport, but neither were accepted by the other. The airport and the university have been in negotiations since.

Bean said the airport’s previous offer was less than the current $15.3 million proposal, but he did not want to disclose the exact amount.

“This is the offer that we’ve made based on the information and a lot of meticulous study about what is there and what is eligible and not eligible under the federal law,” Bean said.

The Board of Regents special meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday via teleconference in the Lighty Student Services Building, Room 403, in Pullman.