The MAC will also hold an open house to inform the airport’s long-term plan
An aircraft lands on Runway 32-14 at St. Paul Downtown Airport. Courtesy: Metropolitan Airports Commission
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has opened a 45-day public comment period for its St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP) 2045 Long-Term Plan, which is intended to provide a high-level framework for future development.
“The St. Paul Downtown Airport long-term plan is a forward-looking roadmap that identifies facility and infrastructure needs based on projected airport activity,” said Bridget Rief, the MAC’s vice president of planning and development. “The plan guides strategic investments and safety improvements, helping ensure the airport can meet future demand while continuing to serve users and the surrounding community.”
St. Paul Downtown Airport serves primarily corporate based aircraft due to its location across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Paul and because it has the longest runway — 6,941 feet — among the six Twin Cities general aviation airports that the MAC operates. STP logged 40,732 aircraft operations in 2025. It also provides aviation services and aircraft storage, with in-demand hangar space for more than 100 aircraft.
To date, the MAC has sought input from the Federal Aviation Administration and stakeholder groups to develop a series of proposed improvements across airport property. Objectives include:
- Improve Runway 14-32 safety and object-free areas
- Simplify and standardize the runway and taxiway configuration and geometry
- Preserve the primary runway length (there are no proposed modifications to expand runway length)
- Maximize available runway when the temporary floodwall is deployed
- Open acreage for aeronautical development
- Accommodate emerging aviation technologies
While the draft plan outlines potential airport projects, it does not authorize construction. Once the plan is fully approved, the MAC will follow any required environmental review processes and vote on separate budget actions to formally approve specific projects identified in the plan before starting construction.
The MAC invites the public to an open house to learn about the long-term planning process and to provide input.
Discover St. Paul Downtown Airport
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
STP Airport administration building
644 Bayfield Street
St. Paul, MN 55107
Free parking available onsite
The draft St. Paul Downtown Airport 2045 long-term plan is available online, along with additional information about the planning process and a link to submit public comments. Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2026.
About The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates one of the nation’s largest airport systems, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and six general aviation airports. The MAC’s airports connect the region to the world and showcase Minnesota’s extraordinary culture to millions of passengers from around the globe who arrive or depart through MAC airports each year. Though a public corporation of the state of Minnesota, the organization is not funded by income or property taxes. Instead, the MAC’s operations are funded by rents and fees generated by users of its airports. For more information, visit www.metroairports.org.
