Grants bring Monterey Regional Airport one step closer to a new runway and terminal.

Monterey Regional Airport, the county’s only commercial airport, serves over 400,000 passengers annually. But the terminal those passengers use, originally built in 1950 and expanded in 1973, is outdated. For years, MRY has operated commercial flights with a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration. “Our current terminal building is too close to the existing taxiway and the taxiway is too close to the runway,” says Michael La Pier, the airport’s executive director.

In 2020, the board of the Monterey Peninsula Airport District approved a master plan calling for a new terminal as well as other features for a more modern, FAA-compliant airport. Even before that, in 2019, the airport acquired three properties on Highway 68 with a $6.8 million FAA grant, anticipating new construction.

In the years since, it’s been something of a waiting game. But the new terminal project, still in its infancy as far as design, got a big funding boost in September. MRY received $25 million in federal funds: $22 million to support tarmac improvements from the Airport Improvement Program, and $3 million toward terminal design from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

On Aug. 7, the MRY board approved a design contract with the firm Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum for a sustainable design concept that will be 62,000 square feet and will feature jet bridges or boarding ramps, rather than the current format in which passengers must walk to and from portable ramps. It’s also intended to include better flow of people in the ticketing area.

Additional future improvements could also include the addition of customs service, which would allow direct international flights in and out of MRY. For now, private jets traveling internationally need to stop at another airport, increasing time and fuel costs. For example, to fly from Guadalajara to Monterey, a pilot may land in San Diego or Los Angeles to clear customs. “It’s more efficient, it’s better for the environment and it’s better customer service,” La Pier adds.

While some changes remain in the future, passengers will start seeing updates soon. Tarmac construction, which is the first phase of the project, is set to start next month.

The second phase is expected to cost $43 million. “Now that we’re in the new federal fiscal year, we’re hopeful we see a grant in the not-too-distant future for the second phase of the project,” La Pier says.

These projects come on top of other recent changes to MRY’s facilities meant to improve service and comply with FAA regulations. That includes the upcoming opening of a new aircraft rescue and firefighting facility, and nearing completion on hangar replacement construction. For the latest improvements, MRY has spent over $60 million.

There is also, meanwhile, continued commercial growth. On Oct. 4, MRY announced it plans to add a nonstop flight to Chicago thanks to a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.