SW Oklahoma ARPA Regional Alliance - City of Lawton

PROJECT PURPOSE

Lawton Fort Sill Regional Airport has been identified and used actively as a Port of Embarkation for DoD, is continually used by the Army to fly trainees to and from other training installations and Fort Sill and has been used for deployment and return of active duty and reserve component units. The need for a parking apron which would accommodate large military cargo aircraft without compromising the one active runway and taxiways has long been identified and has been communicated to the Army and the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation. This project was moved under USTRANSCOM and while was scheduled for FY23 and FY24 but has since been pushed back beyond the Delegation?s ability to pull them forward on the FYDP. The project remains however significant to enable Lawton Fort Sill Regional to effectively handle military air traffic, as well as other defense related and civil cargo air traffic, while simultaneously handling general and commercial aviation. This project can have immediate and positive impact not only on military air traffic, but defense related and civil cargo air traffic as well. It also supports the Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator (FISTA). High tech systems will be integrated at the FISTA. Having the ability to airlift these systems (and components) in real time will save lives and ensure mission accomplishment.

EVIDENCE

By virtue of integrating major defense systems in the FISTA, there will be a requirement (based upon worldwide contingencies) to move large systems by air. Presently, it is very difficult to move large planes at LRA. The parking apron needs to be much larger, and the runway needs an additional 1,400 feet.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

While Southwest Oklahoma continues to work very hard to improve conditions for our citizens, we continue to struggle with poverty and decline. With 18.5% of our population in poverty and only 45% of our households in owner occupied homes. Our median household income pf just less than $48,000 is more than 10% below the state. Lawton is a very diverse, inclusive, and progressive community, but we lack the resources to create the kind of community improvement projects that can move us economically to the next level. Support of Fort Sill through this project and the Fires Innovation and Technology Accelerator preserves and provides thousands of jobs to our region and continues to provide economic stability. Southwestern Oklahoma has felt impact of the pandemic through stagnant municipal revenues and significantly increasing costs due to supply delays and labor shortage.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Flights into the Lawton Fort Sill Regional Airport (LRA) are tracked in detail. The use of the apron/extension can be measured directly.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma