In his report to the WATS (Williamsport Area Transportation Study) Technical Committee, Eric McKitish, executive director of the Williamsport Regional Airport, told the committee that the airport and Montoursville Borough have come to an agreement for the vacating of a portion of Airport Road which will allow for Montour Street to be extended to connect to the airport property.

“Because of this, the Montour Street Connector Project is now underway and this is decades in the making,”

“I thought it was like 17 to 18 years, but it sounds like it’s about 35-36 years that this actually started,” he added.

The project involves vacating Airport Road from South Loyalsock Avenue to near where the Airport Terminal is located. This will create a second direct access road in and out of the airport complex. Currently the only way in and out is South Loyalsock Avenue.

“I think that’s how this all started years ago. There was actually a simulated aircraft emergency here at the airport and a train actually blocked the entrance coming in,” McKitish explained.

“If it was a real emergency the responding units could not get into the airport,” he said.

“This will benefit airline passenger and college airport tenants and most importantly…all emergency services coming to the airport complex,” he added.

McKitish reported that the number of passengers increased during the fourth quarter last year for a yearly total of approximately 6,000. He noted that he continues to build his case to “both legacy and low cost air carriers” at the airport which should be the next consideration for new air service.

“The airport continues to have meaningful conversations with multiple air carriers and hopefully an announcement will be made in the near future,” he said.

He also announced Stallion Oil Field Services as a new tenant at the airport.