Juneau airport board to vote on tapping nearly half its capital reserve for tower roof grant match

Juneau International Airport's board is set to vote next week on whether to commit nearly half its available Airport Capital Reserve to meet the local match requirement for a federal grant to replace the air traffic control tower's original roof, hatch, and access ladder, all dating to 1987. The same meeting also includes review of tenant liaison comments on the draft master plan and a new framework for prioritizing non-federally eligible capital projects.

The FAA awarded Juneau International Airport $963,247 through its Airports Terminal Program on May 19 for the tower roof replacement. The total project cost is estimated at $1,013,944, leaving a local match of $50,697. Staff propose drawing that amount from the Airport Capital Reserve, which currently holds $109,876. The board is scheduled to vote on the forward-funding motion at its July 9 meeting.

What the Vote Would Cost the Reserve

Approving the match would consume 46 percent of the reserve, leaving roughly $59,000 for other needs. Airport staff and board members have previously noted that not all airport repair costs qualify for FAA Airport Improvement Program funding, meaning local reserves must absorb ineligible projects as they arise. The board will also review a non-federally eligible project prioritization framework at the same meeting, a process intended to guide how limited local funds are directed across competing capital needs.

JNU applied for three Airports Terminal Program grants and received only one. The agenda states the two unfunded tower repair scopes will be addressed as funding allows.

Design and Construction Timeline

Staff have already issued a request for proposals for design services, with proposals due July 10. The schedule targets a bid-ready design by mid-September and a final grant application by the extended deadline of October 30, 2026. Construction is planned for a 90-day window beginning May 1, 2027, and will require coordination with air traffic control to avoid disrupting operations.

The airport also serves the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska Army National Guard under commercial lease agreements. The Juneau Airport Wind System, a safety tool developed with the FAA and mounted on tower infrastructure, is among the systems that depend on the tower remaining in service. The roof, hatch, and access ladder have been in place since the tower's original 1987 construction.

Tenant and Master Plan Items

Also on the July 9 agenda, the board will receive written comments from the Airport Tenant Liaison on the draft Airport Master Plan. The liaison, representing more than 50 general aviation users, submitted feedback after the formal public comment period closed, covering topics including an alternate source of aviation fuel, hangar area paving and drainage, and general aviation facilities. Staff intend to include the letter in JNU's final comment package so the feedback is preserved in the project record.