SPONSOR: Town of Dubois, Wyoming
DATE: 2005
Engineering Fee: $137,101
SERVICES PROVIDED:
· Researching Alternate Site Locations
· Recompiling ALP Drawing Set
· Developing 20-year CIP Plan
· Compilation of Master Plan
Prior to 2005 Dubois Municipal Airport had never had a Master Plan. Because of several factors, the plan was three years in development. The plan that evolved out of this effort now lays out a sound development for three or more decades into the future. The plan addresses the tight constraints of the current airport site in meeting the needs of a community that is expected to grow, both in population and in economic activity. Socioeconomic data showed that the Dubois area would be experiencing development overflow from the recreation industry centered on the Jackson/Yellowstone area as has Pinedale and Afton, Wyoming, and Driggs, Idaho.
Using the resultant aviation activity forecasts it was determined that a prudent configuration of the airport should accommodate twin engine prop aircraft for the near future with the option of very easily accommodating small jet aircraft should such traffic materialize at any time in the future. It was that configuration that Dubois, the FAA, and Wyoming Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division agreed to. The resulting configuration will require complete redevelopment of the present airport site. It was determined that in spite of its expense this was clearly the most economical approach to meeting the aviation needs of the Dubois area.
Due to the mountainous character of the land in the Dubois area it was determined that there is no other more favorable site than the present site within the upper Wind River Valley. The nearest more favorable site was an isolated site nearly 30 miles east of town, an inconvenient alternative for the aviation public.
The redeveloped airport will significantly improve the visual impact of the present airport. It will overcome the present lack of hangar sites. It provides ample room for an FBO, fuel facilities, and an expanded apron, and adequate room for future hangar development, all of which are absent with the present airport.