Board of Supervisors approves pavement rehabilitation project at Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport

The Board of Supervisors today approved $5.7 million of funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to reconstruct and expand Apron C at Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport where commercial aircraft park, load and unload, refuel and undergo maintenance. The apron was constructed in the early 1960’s to serve four airplanes. Although a portion of the apron was rehabilitated in 2015, an increase in regional airline service has resulted in continued deterioration of the remaining pavement. The improvement project, which will expand the apron to serve six airplanes, is estimated to begin in the spring of 2025 and expected to be completed by the fall of 2026. 

“This is an important and much-needed investment in safety upgrades,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “I applaud the County’s public infrastructure team for being proactive in securing federal grant funding to address the matter in a cost-effective way.”   

An evaluation of the airport’s pavement condition was performed in 2021 for an Airport Pavement Management System update. At the time of the survey, it was determined the remaining Apron C pavement was in very poor to serious condition, including cracking and weathering. Based on the results of the report and the increase in commercial airline service at the airport, it was determined that Apron C needed to be fully reconstructed and expanded from four airplane parking positions to six to provide adequate, safe and functional infrastructure.  

Today’s Board action authorizes the Sonoma County Department of Public Infrastructure to execute a contract with Granite Construction, a Watsonville-based construction company, to proceed according to a project phasing plan that will match expected federal funding and allow the four existing aircraft parking positions to remain usable during construction to minimize impacts on operations and passengers. The overall project includes miscellaneous demolition, pavement removal, storm drain removal, temporary electrical modifications for phasing needs, electrical equipment removals, subgrade excavation and preparation, subgrade treatment, limited paving, pavement markings, new storm drain installation, underground infiltration/detention system installation, electrical infrastructure installation, cable installation, installation of new ground support equipment and ground power equipment planes, and installation of new apron light poles.   

In 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved Master Agreements for professional services for five years including engineering, planning, design, construction management, environmental and other services related to capital improvement projects at the airport. In 2024, the County refurbished a section of airport runway pavement and replaced a deteriorating culvert in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, which has oversight of safety and operations at the regional airfield. 

For more information regarding the Apron C rehabilitation project at Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport, or for general airport information, please visit https://sonomacountyairport.org/ or call (707) 565-7243.   

Media Contact: 

Jon Stout, airport manager 

Jon.Stout@Sonoma-County.org   

(707) 565-7243 

Dan Virkstis, communications specialist 

publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org  

707-565-3040