Pittsburgh airport receives grant for construction
February 29, 2012, 03:23 pm
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently awarded the Pittsburgh International Airport with $2 million to construct a new stormwater treatment plant. The state agency plans to invest $10 million in grants for infrastructure projects at airports throughout the state. Under the state's General Fund project, the funding will be distributed through the state's Capital Budget/Transportation Assistance Program.
"Thousands of people rely on the aviation industry for jobs," Governor Tom Corbett. "These funds will help ensure that the airports continue to run safely and can meet the demands of their regional economies."
Pittsburgh International is set to receive the largest amount of funding from the program, but eight other airports are also upgrading their facilities and technology through the grants. The Lehigh Valley International Airport will receive $1.5 million to complete the relocation and extensions of its current runway, while the Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field has been allocated $2.4 million to extend a runway allowing larger planes to use the airport and improve safety during winter operations. Pilot insurance can also improve safety in the skies.
Further, Butler County Airport will use $1 million from the state to replace the terminal building's mechanical systems and roof, construct additional hangars and replace maintenance hangar's siding. The Bloomsburg Municipal Airport was granted $500,000 to rehabilitate an airport building, replace electrical wiring throughout the facility and update the heating system.
Schuylkill County/Joe Zerbey Airport will also receive funding from the state, using $300,000 to construct a new hangar. Bill Willard, airport manager, said the new hangar will house corporate planes, as all the existing hangars are currently filled and corporate planes are too tall to fit into the buildings, the Republican Herald reported. The new hangar should improve efficiency and attract more business to the airport.
"We need to have infrastructure and facilities to attract business," Willard said, according to the news source. "It's a nice facility with the potential for growth. I really believe it is an asset to the county and it is something people should be proud to have."
The airport is also planning to extend its runway so longer planes can take off and land at the facility. In order to qualify for another grant to extend the runway, the airport must meet a certain number of daily cycles. The airport does has not met the number just yet, but Willard expects to in the future, the source reported.
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