The runway’s taxiway would also be extended on the southeast end of Runway 11-29 and displaced on the northwest end in order to accommodate the runway displacement. Related actions to the runway/taxiway extensions would be a relocated Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF)/perimeter road on the southeastern end, new runway lights, runway end indicator lights, runway alignment indicator lights, and pavement markings. The existing 350’ of runway pavement on the northwest end of Runway 11-29 that will be removed from service will not be torn out. Design of the runway/taxiway extensions and related actions would be in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specifications.

The FAA was a cooperating agency throughout the EIS process and intends to issue a separate Record of Decision (ROD) for modifications at the Lafayette Regional Airport that are required as a part of the I-49 Connector highway project. Therefore, the separate FAA ROD is required prior to the construction of the I-49 Connector. The FAA ROD addresses the following actions related to the airport:

The FAA may make a number of decisions pursuant to the Final EIS. Generally, the FAA’s ROD will address the possible approval of a change to the Airport Layout Plan (ALP), upon request from the airport owner. These changes may include the depiction of actions necessary to accommodate the I-49 Connector project. Other decisions the FAA may make include the relocation of navigational aids, a change to approach procedures as required, and consideration of possible release of approximately 3.5 acres of Federally-obligated airport property, upon request by the airport property owner.

COMMITMENT:

In order to construct the southeast extension for Runway 11-29, airspacing and obstruction evaluations will be performed before and during construciton of the I-49 Connector. Special care will be taken by the contractor to see that the construciton cranes do not extend above the glide slope. Only certain roadway lights can be used on the I-49 overpass at University/Surrey Streets. These lights will be pointed down and will be designed so as to not encroach into the glide slope or otherwise affect airport operations. The LaDOTD and FHWA will fund necessary airport modifications as a part of the highway project.

The FAA has conducted modeling of obstacles, primarily large tractor-trailers, on the access road for possible impacts to the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) radiated signal. The modeling indicates no impacts to the operation of the VOR; however if upon completion of the I-49 Connector project, an impact on the VOR is identified, LaDOTD/FHWA commits to funding the relocation of the VOR.

The FAA has an active project to replace the Runway 22L localizer antenna array in essentially the same location in the future. The I-49 Connector project will not require any additional right of way in the vicinity of the existing or the future relocated localizer antenna array. Therefore, no impact on FAA's plans should occur.

In order to minimize impacts to the Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR), for Runway 04R, that will be in place prior to commencement of design of the I-49 Connector project, the LaDOTD/FHWA agrees to coordiante with the FAA on any preliminary design in the area between nodes A and B depicted in Volume I of the EIS, Exhibit S-2.

During the design phase of the project, the LaDOTD and FHWA will coordinate with the FAA Fort Worth NAS Implementation Center, ANI-600, to ensure that FAA technical specifications are met with regard to navigational aids.

The I-49 Connector overpass at University Avenue and the I-49 connector interchange at Kaliste Saloom Road would penetrate a 100:1 slope off any runway. As a result, a FAA Form 7460-1, Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration, will be filed with the Air Traffic Division, ASW-520, before construction.

STATUS:

See table below.

Commitment/Mitigation Tasks	When to Occur*	Status	Date Completed	Links to Relevant Resources
Completion of FAA Record of Decision	P	ROD was signed on September 19, 2005.	Federal Register Notice was issued on September 23, 2005.	FAA ROD
Airspacing and obstruction evaluations	F,C	No Activity	N/A	N/A
VOR observations after construction and potential relocation	C	No Activity	N/A	N/A
LaDOTD/FHWA coordination with FAA during final design to minimize impacts to MALSR for Runway 04R	F	No Activity	N/A	N/A
*Note: P = Preliminary Design Phase, F = Final Design Phase, C = Construction Phase