Governor Corbett Announces Investment for Safety Enhancements, Improvements at 15 Airports

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced that a $5.4 million state and federal investment will enhance safety and operations at 15 airports in 14 Pennsylvania counties.

"Pennsylvania's public-use airports produce more than $23 billion in economic activity every year," Corbett said. "This shows why it's so important to invest in transportation. Improving airport safety and efficiency supports jobs and businesses across the state."

The state portion of funding – $286,016 from PennDOT's aviation development program – comes from the state's jet fuel tax. The state and federal investments also leverage $286,016 in local matching funds.

The Federal Aviation Administration is providing $5.4 million in grants through its Block Grant program, which is funded through taxes collected nationally on airline tickets, freight waybills, international departure fees and the sale of aviation fuel. Under the federal program, airports receive up to 95 percent of eligible project costs for projects included in Pennsylvania's 12-year transportation program.

Public-use airports in the state are eligible for the aviation development program. Airports eligible for the federal block grant program include: general aviation airports, designated reliever airports, and non-primary commercial airline airports (those with fewer than 10,000 annual passengers) that are part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

The state has 133 public-use airports and heliports and 15 airports have scheduled commercial service.

For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us and then click on the "Public Participation 2013 Program Update" button, or call 717-783-8800.

Media contacts:
Erin Waters-Trasatt, PennDOT; 717-783-8800
Kelli Roberts, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: Following is a by-county list of airport improvement grant recipients, the amount of funding, and a brief description of the projects:

Beaver County:

• Beaver County Airport -- $300,833 to remove obstructions to improve safety.
• Zelienople Municipal Airport -- $1.6 million for two phases of a project to construct an airpark development.

Bradford County: Bradford County Airport -- $158,333 to acquire land for airport development.

Bucks County: Doylestown Airport -- $50,139 to remove airport obstructions.

Butler County: Butler County Airport -- $1 million to widen a taxiway and acquire land in a runway protection zone.

Carbon County: Jake Arner Memorial Airport -- $125,347 to study obstructions.

Chester County: Chester County/G.O. Carlson Airport -- $150,417 to study and complete preliminary design for obstruction removal.

Clarion County: Clarion County Airport -- $765,873 to repave the runway.

Clinton County: William T. Piper Memorial Airport -- $38,000 to rehabilitate taxiways and an apron.

Fayette County: Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport -- $158,333 to conduct wetland monitoring for post-construction environmental requirements.

Indiana County: Indiana County/Jimmy Stewart Airport -- $196,333 to remove runway obstructions.

Luzerne County: Hazleton Municipal Airport -- $50,139 to complete design work for obstruction removal.

Monroe County: Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport -- $381,056 to update the airport's master plan.

Venango County: Venango Regional Airport -- $300,833 to install an emergency generator.

Washington County: Washington County Airport -- $158,333 to remove obstructions and acquire land.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor