Airport Traffic Control Tower Construction at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport

Airport Traffic Control Tower Construction at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM or “Airport”) is a public-use Airport that is owned and operated by the County of Riverside (“County”). TRM is located in the lower Coachella Valley, in an unincorporated area of the County southwest of the community of Thermal and approximately 33 miles southeast of Palm Springs. The Airport serves General Aviation (GA), pilot training, and charter operations. TRM plays a crucial role as a gateway to the growing Riverside region, which is a prominent destination for business, tourism, and community investment. TRM is included in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The FAA determined that the Airport is eligible for the Federal Control Tower Program in 2022. The County proposed to construct a 448-square-foot octagonal Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) to enhance safety by improving communication among aircraft to reduce the risk of accidents, incursions, and other hazards. The proposed project will not increase airport capacity or alter the aircraft fleet mix. Riverside County and the FAA conducted a tower siting to identify an appropriate ATCT location. The County will construct the ATCT on a previously graded and disturbed area of airport property located east of the runway. The ATCT site is vacant and includes low-growing vegetation. The 8.5-acre project area includes the tower site and all limits of disturbance and a 200-foot by 200-foot construction staging area. Runway hold lights will be installed in existing pavement at the end of Runway 12 to increase visibility for the Air Traffic Controller. The tower site, which includes the tower, emergency generator / pad, and fence will total 0.24 acre (10,404 square feet). The interior roadway area leading from the secure airport entrance at the intersection of Polk Road and Avenue 58 to the tower will total 1.15 acres (50,006 square feet). The ATCT will be served by existing utilities (sewer, electricity, communications, and water). The remaining approximately 7-acre area of disturbance is associated with utility connections and trenching, but this disturbance will be temporary and will not increase the amount of impervious surface at the airport. The facility will include an average of 3 staff members daily (one staff member per shift). Construction is anticipated in late 2026.

Thermal

Riverside

Countywide

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Deserts Region 6 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 8 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region 7 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance

Transportation:Air/Heliport (Air Traffic Control Tower at an Existing Airport. )

Site Plan

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Energy, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Wildfire