$8.8 Million To Be Spent On Renovations To Runway 13L/31R

Officials with Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) learned Wednesday the airport received a second grant from the recently passed federal stimulus bill, known officially as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The stimulus funds, which will be distributed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), total $8.8 million and will be used for the renovation of Runway 13L/31R, including lighting and surface repairs.

US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced the second grant for $2 million in Washington, DC. DFW CEO Jeff Fegan thanked US Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas for her assistance in securing the grant.

"We appreciate Congresswoman Johnson's continuing support to DFW as the economic engine of North Texas," said Fegan. "We continue to enhance the infrastructure of our Airport and rehabilitate its existing structures to benefit our passengers and the region."

DFW will use the new funding for the second phase of its rehabilitation project on runway 13L/31R. The funding grant will go into a capital account specifically earmarked for airport improvements. Federal grants are not part of the Airport's annual operating budget.

"This grant will help keep DFW extremely cost competitive for our airlines," added Fegan. "These funds will also mean new opportunities for local businesses to do more work at DFW."

DFW operates seven runways and handles more than 650,000 takeoffs and landings per year.

DFW is one of about 3,400 airports designated as part of the national airport system eligible to receive ARRA funds. The FAA is moving swiftly to work with airports to ensure eligible projects have completed or nearly completed design and planning requirements.

Under ARRA, the FAA received $1.1 billion to allocate to qualified airports on a discretionary basis. Those funds will be distributed based on a project priority system that addresses airport safety and security, infrastructure, runway safety, increased capacity, and mitigation of environmental impact.

FMI: www.dfwairport.com