Monroe Mayor, Airport Director speaks on Monroe Regional Airport safety improvements

MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD) – The Monroe Regional Airport can expect several phases of enhancements that will improve the safety and appeal of the local airport.

After a July 2024 Monroe city council meeting, it was a unanimous decision to go forward with improvements to the local airport. The improvement is a $12 million project funded by the FAA and DOTD. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will contribute 90% of the funding, and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will contribute 10%. KTVE/KARD spoke with the mayor of the City of Monroe about the collaboration.

This is a great project. It adds new taxiways for our pilots to navigate our airport and the beauty of this one, it’s a hundred percent funded. So the feds and the state came together and said “hey we would like for you not to use your aprons as taxiway and by the way here’s the money to do that.” This never happens and so we’re so thankful.

Mayor Friday Ellis, City of Monroe

The Airport Improvement Project is one of multiple phases of enhancements to the airport. The first phase is focused on the addition of taxiway D, which would make taking off, landing, and maneuvering the airport safer for pilots. The director of the Monroe Regional Airport spoke to KTVE/KARD about the enhancements.

The taxiway project is going to be great for the airport. It’s basically going to, basically make a parallel taxiway for one four three two, one of our secondary runways. So it will help us be more in line with new FAA standards. Right now we’ve got a curve in the taxiway so it’ll make sure it’s straight and it’ll be alot more safer for the pilots as they’re coming in.

Charles Butcher, Monroe Regional Airport

Improving the safety of the taxiway could also attract more business to the local airport. Mayor Ellis gave input about the future potential of the Monroe Regional Airport.

You know pilots talk, airlines talk. The improvements that you make to your airport make it a more attractive environment for them to operate which in turn could lead to a better environment and more attractive for other airlines to be able to come to Monroe.

Mayor Friday Ellis, City of Monroe

The economic impact of the first phase of enhancements to the airport is expected to exceed $50 million. The City of Monroe is hopeful that construction will begin at the end of the year and may take up to six months.