PCTPA is involved in aviation planning in three ways. The first involves land-use planning for the areas around the airports within the County. In this function, PCTPA is known as the Airport Land Use Commission. The second area of involvement is in regional aviation system planning activities which result in a Regional Aviation System Plan. The third activity involves working with the airports within the County to develop a program of airport improvement projects. The result of this activity is the Regional Capital Improvement Program, which is used to develop airport project funding proposals.
Airport Land Use Planning
In its role as the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC), PCTPA has two primary functions. One is the protection of public health, safety, and welfare through the adoption of land-use standards that minimize the public’s exposure to safety hazards and excessive noise from nearby airports. The second function is to prevent the encroachment of incompatible land uses around airports, thereby preserving the utility of the airports into the future.
The Placer County Airport Land Use Commission adopted the Placer County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan on February 26, 2014. The Plan serves as a tool for use by the commission in fulfilling its duty to review airport and adjacent land use development proposals.
Regional Aviation System Plan
The Regional Aviation System Plan provides a comprehensive look at the region’s aviation system. It includes a description of individual airports, discusses the major issues affecting aviation, examines the status of aviation funding programs, reviews future forecasts of aviation activity at individual airports, and analyzes the capability of the region’s airports to accommodate the forecast future demand. The plan also includes a series of goals, objectives, and policies to guide PCTPA in its ongoing aviation planning activities.
Regional Capital Improvement Program
PCTPA updates the Regional Capital Improvement Program (CIP) every other year. The Regional CIP is a list of the capital needs of the region’s public-use airports. PCTPA works with the airports to develop the Regional CIP, which is then submitted to Caltrans for incorporation into the California Aviation System Plan. The CIP serves as a guide for current and future airport development.
Airports
Auburn Municipal Airport – Auburn Airport is located on 210 acres in the northeast section of the City of Auburn, in Placer County, between Highways 49 and 80, and south of Dry Creek Road. The airport was established in 1947, and is owned and operated by the City of Auburn.
Lincoln Regional Airport – Lincoln Airport is located in Placer County on the western edge of the City of Lincoln. Established as a military airport in 1942, it was turned over to the City of Lincoln after World War II. The airport is currently operated by the City of Lincoln.
Blue Canyon Airport – Blue Canyon Airport, which is operated by the County of Placer, is an emergency airstrip.
Truckee-Tahoe Airport – the Truckee-Tahoe Airport lies northwest of the Lake Tahoe Basin, about two miles east of the Town of Truckee and roughly in the center of a 70 square mile area known as the Martis Valley. The airport is a public general aviation facility owned and operated by the Truckee-Tahoe Airport District. While the airport is primarily located in Nevada County, a small portion of the runway is in Placer County. In 2010, a special Airport Land Use Commission, with representation from both Placer and Nevada counties was established. The Nevada County Transportation Commission (NCTC) staffs this ALUC. For more on the airport, it’s land use compatibility plan, and NCTC, see www.nctc.ca.gov.