The big picture
At a Feb. 18 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved a $341,023 contract with Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers LLC for design of its new fuel farm at the Sugar Land Regional Airport.
The over $2 million project aims to combat the airport’s 25-year-old aging infrastructure and meet increasing fuel needs at the airport, city officials said in an email. Funding will be provided by airport revenues.
The details
The new facility will increase the airport’s fuel storage capacity from 70,000 gallons to the industry-recommended 120,000 gallons, which is a 10-day supply, according to agenda documents.
Other features of the new facility include:
- Modern fuel management system with automated spill reporting
- Improved fuel pumps
- A quality control building
- Enhanced security measures such as upgraded fencing, access control systems and security cameras
By the numbers
Since fiscal year 2014-15, the airport has seen an 48% influx in fuel sales, despite a decrease in FY 2019-20 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to agenda documents.
Airport officials are also negotiating a contract to develop Taxilane C, a hangar complex, for its corporate flight department. The project is expected to bring additional revenues through land leasing and fuel sales as well as create additional jobs in the area, city officials said.
If both parties proceed with the lease, city officials said they anticipate finalizing the agreement later this year.
Going forward
Design on the fuel farm is expected to be completed this summer, with construction set to begin in the fall, city officials said. A more in-depth timeline for the construction of the fuel farm will come as design progresses.
Additionally, officials will create a plan to decommission the existing site.
