Economic Recovery Act Continues To Speed Funding For Improvements

US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced Thursday more than $28 million for Arizona airports under the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including a $10.5 million grant for runway rehabilitation at the heavily traveled Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

"This Administration is committed to getting the US economy going again and these grants are part of making that happen," said LaHood. "We are creating jobs here in Arizona while investing in the long-term safety and economic vitality of our airports."

The Federal Aviation Administration grant to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will pay for improvements to Taxiway C, a major taxiway on the airport’s north side. The project includes replacing asphalt with more durable concrete, as well as installing new pavement marking, lighting and signs.  Phoenix Sky Harbor served about 40 million passengers last year.

Secretary LaHood said the following Arizona airports will also receive ARRA funding.

• Tucson International Airport will receive $1.85 million for installing new security equipment.
• Sierra Vista Municipal Airport in Parker, AZ will receive $6 million to rehabilitate Runway 12/30.
• Kingman Airport in Kingman, AZ will receive $5 million to rehabilitate aircraft parking aprons.
• Taylor Municipal Airport in Taylor, AZ will receive $3.5 million to rehabilitate a runway.
• Avi Suquilla Airport in Avi Suquilla, AZwill receive $1.8 million to rehabilitate two taxiways.

About 3,400 airports designated as part of the national airport system are eligible to receive Recovery Act funds. The FAA is moving swiftly to work with airport sponsors to ensure that eligible projects have completed, or nearly completed, design and planning requirements.

Under the Recovery Act, the FAA received $1.1 billion for qualified airports on a discretionary basis. That funding will be allocated based on a project priority system that addresses airport safety and security, infrastructure, runway safety, increased capacity, and mitigation of environmental impacts.  

FMI: www.dot.gov