ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996 TAG: 9603250055
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
A new $1.7 million terminal at the Virginia Tech Airport, which is being called a "gateway to the New River Valley," formally opened Friday.
The 6,890-square-foot terminal, which includes separate passenger and pilot lounges, replaces a much smaller and older facility that consisted of a small lounge, "a couple of vending machines and a few chairs," said Ron Worley, a Richmond architect who worked on the project.
The dedication of the terminal on Friday, where Tech and transportation officials emphasized the airport's economic development role, comes just weeks after officials from Tech and surrounding localities began informal talks about making it more of a community airport.
One possibility is formation of an airport authority, which could include Montgomery, Pulaski and Giles counties and Radford. Creation of an authority or a task force were both options mentioned in an airport master plan study completed in the fall.
The question facing potential partners would be whether the benefits to the communities would balance the cost involved, said Blacksburg Mayor Roger Hedgepeth, who attended the informal meeting held earlier this month.
Another meeting between Tech and the surrounding localities likely will be held sometime next month. Richard Alvarez, Tech's director of public safety, health and transportation, stressed that the groups will discuss other possibilities in addition to the airport authority.
"We're just now beginning to discuss how we can work together," he said.
Though the 65-year-old airport is state owned and has only one charter air service, it serves more than just Virginia Tech. Nearly one-third of its approximately 34,000 flights each year are business-related. It also sits across the street from Tech's growing Corporate Research Center.
The future of Tech's airport, Alvarez said, will be in business and general aviation - not in commercial air service. Tech officials stressedFriday that the airport serves as an important economic development tool because businesses want fast, easy access to air travel.
During the last few years, several improvements to the airport have been made, including extending its runway, improving lighting, constructing a parallel taxiway and installing new equipment.
The new terminal, which features large windows and an old-fashioned hangar-style roof, was funded primarily with money from the Federal Aviation Administration. Tech contributed $210,500 to the project, while the state pitched in another $334,700.
"We believe that this terminal reflects a fitting image of the New River Valley as a desirable, modern business location," Tech President Paul Torgersen said Friday.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff.1 . The new Virginia Tech Airportby CNBterminal features large windows and an old-fashioned hangar-style
roof. Friday, it alsofeatured a nice pread for the assembled
dignataries. color. 2. The new terminal (right) at Virginia Tech
Airport will help ease the load put on the old 1940 vintage hangar,
which also served as the terminal. The only state-owned airport
handles an average of 34,000 flights a year. (Ran in Metro edition
only).