Houston Airport System Environmental On-Call Services

The Houston Airport System (HAS) operates three airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Ellington Airport (EFD). IAH is a major connecting hub for United Airlines and an international gateway. HOU is a focus city for Southwest Airlines as well as a major base for corporate aviation. EFD, a general aviation facility, is home to several military aviation users, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the recently approved Ellington Spaceport. In 2016, HAS airports accommodated over 52 million total passengers and 814,653 total aircraft operations.

Airfield
The City of Houston and the Houston Airport System retained RS&H to perform runway and taxiway rehabilitation work at both George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and William P. Hobby Airport. Heavy use over time had caused the airfield pavements at Bush to deteriorate.  RS&H performed rehabilitation for the 12,000-foot-long Runway 15L-33R, and all of its associated taxiways. An innovative aerial photography/CADD data interface was utilized that permitted much of the engineering evaluations to be completed with minimal runway down time. At Hobby, we  rehabilitated Runway 4-22 and Taxiway C. Runway 4-22 is one of a few continuously reinforced concrete pavements in the world. Due to issues with the initial construction of the runway in the 1980s, both ends of the runway had significantly honeycombed concrete, leading to the need for replacement of each runway end.

Environmental Stewardship & Resiliency
RS&H has provided comprehensive on-call environmental services to the HAS since 2014. RS&H has led a multidisciplinary team including 12 specialty environmental scientists and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) specialists in over 70 assignments including Air Quality, Water Quality, Wetlands, and Biological Resources, Historic and Cultural Resources, Hazardous Materials, NEPA, and Strategic Planning

The breadth and depth of RS&H’s experience has benefited the HAS by enabling HAS staff to anticipate environmental requirements in support of the capital improvement program.

Environmental Services Contract
RS&H has provided comprehensive on-call environmental services to the HAS since 2014. RS&H has led a multidisciplinary team including 12 specialty environmental scientists and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) specialists in over 70 assignments including: Air Quality, Water Quality, Wetlands and Biological Resources, Historic and Cultural Resources, Hazardous Materials, NEPA, and Strategic Planning

The breadth and depth of RS&H’s experience has benefited the HAS by enabling HAS staff to anticipate environmental requirements in support of the capital improvement program.

Drainage Master Plans
RS&H provided an updated Drainage Master Plan (DMP) and Storm Water Quality Master Plan (SWQMP) for George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Ellington/Houston Spaceport, and William P. Hobby Airport as part of Houston Airport System (HAS) general engineering contract (GEC). The DMP and SWQMP are essential corollaries to the Airport Master Plan (AMP) by identifying the necessary drainage improvements to address existing drainage issues and to accommodate future development listed in the AMP.

The George Bush Intercontinental DMP provides an analysis of pre- and post- development hydrologic and hydraulic conditions utilizing HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS software to identify impacts to the 100-year floodplain within the airport property, as well as, any potential adverse impacts to the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) facilities located downstream. The DMP includes multiple alternatives and a recommendation for mitigation/detention facilities to ensure that drainage systems meet conveyance criteria and future development does not cause flooding in surrounding properties.

The objective of the SWQMP was to identify potential development impacts on existing storm water quality features and to provide water quality guidance and recommendations for the future improvement projects detailed in the Airport Master Plan. In addition, the study analyzed existing structural and non-structural best management practices (BMPs), as well as, identified new BMPs that could be effectively used to address storm water quality concerns.

Similar studies were completed for Ellington/Houston Spaceport and William P. Hobby Airport which presented some unique challenges related to property availability for stormwater facilities, wildlife attraction concerns, off-airport improvements and associated coordination, and multiple jurisdictional requirements.