DOT's LaHood Releases Economic Recovery Funds For Improvements At PIT, AGC

US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced Thursday that Pittsburgh International and Allegheny County Airports will receive the first funding allocations for airport infrastructure projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The FAA will allocate $10 million to Pittsburgh International Airport to repair Runway 14-32, one of four commercial service runways at the facility. The project includes grading, paving, marking signs, and lighting upgrades to the runway. Pittsburgh serves 4.8 million passengers per year.

The $2 million allocation for Allegheny County, a general aviation airport, will renovate a taxiway and relocate a ramp. Both facilities are operated by the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

"This is money that will create jobs now -- but it's also an investment in the long-term safety of our airports and their economic vitality," said Vice President Joe Biden. LaHood added, "This is a critical investment in our nation's airport infrastructure that will boost the local economy by providing jobs for Pittsburgh-area residents."

Under the Recovery Act, the FAA received $1 billion to allocate to 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. The Recovery Act also requires that 50 percent of the funds be obligated within 120 days, which is June 17, 2009.

"The Recovery Act is helping us accelerate funding to key projects and invest in the continued safe and efficient operation of our airports," said Acting FAA Administrator Lynne Osmus.

FMI: www.dot.gov, www.faa.gov, www.recovery.gov