Lautenberg, Menendez Announce Grants To Miller Airpark, South Jersey Regional

Robert J. Miller Airpark in Tom's River, New Jersey has succeeded in taking another incremental step in the eventual addition of a crosswind runway. The FAA has awarded a grant of $299,250 to fund design of a crosswind alternative to the existing runway 6/24, which would require about $7 million to actually build. South Jersey Regional Airport got a $480,000 grant to revise its master plan.

Perhaps just as exciting in the current political climate, both New Jersey's Democratic US Senators have spoken out in favor of the value of aviation to the state's overall economic well-being while jointly announcing the grant.

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (top photo) is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. He commented, "These critical investments in South Jersey airports will upgrade and expand service for the travelers who rely on them. Having up-to-date and reliable airports will help to meet the traveling needs of residents, keep local businesses thriving, and make our state a more attractive destination."

Senator Robert Menendez (lower photo) added, "Modern and efficient airports are key to our economic competitiveness and travelers' safety. This investment will go towards the upgrade of two South Jersey airports to ensure they can continue accommodating comfortably and safely thousands of travelers each year. It will also help boost the area's attractiveness as a tourist destination and help create desperately needed construction jobs immediately."

The Asbury Park Press cites Ocean County Administrator Carl W. Block in reporting the next step in the process is getting a memorandum of agreement among the Board of Freeholders, the FAA, the Pinelands Commission and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. He says that's expected sometime this fall.

FMI: www.planning.co.ocean.nj.us/rjmiller/home.htm