Governor Corbett Announces State Investment for Safety Enhancements, Improvements at 19 Airports

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nineteen Pennsylvania airports will make safety enhancements and improve their operations with the aid of a $2.1 million state investment, Governor Tom Corbett said today.

"Airports contribute to our communities' economies and create thousands of jobs for Pennsylvanians," Corbett said. "This state support will help the airports continue operating safely and ensure that they can continue to meet business demands."

The grants are distributed through PennDOT's aviation development program, which is funded from the state's jet fuel tax. The investments leverage $647,100 in local matching funds. Authorized by the General Assembly, the grants are administered by PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation.

The grants were approved by the State Transportation Commission. The 15-member commission includes the Secretary of Transportation, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor, and the majority and minority chairs of the state Senate and House Transportation Committees.

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

For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us and then click on the "2013 State Transportation Program" 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:

Allegheny County: Allegheny County Airport - $397,500 to acquire airfield maintenance equipment and to rehabilitate and upgrade the terminal building infrastructure and utilities.

Armstrong County: McVille Airport - $93,750 to acquire snow removal equipment.

Bedford County: Bedford County Airport - $15,000 to acquire ground communication outlet equipment.

Berks County: Reading Regional/Carl A. Spaatz Field - $37,500 to remove runway obstructions.

Butler County:

• Butler County Airport - $150,000 to construct a fuel-dispensing facility.
• Butler Farm Show Airport - $45,000 to remove obstructions within the runway approach area.

Cambria County: John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport - $168,750 to acquire airfield maintenance equipment.

Centre County: Bellefonte Airport - $225,000 to install runway lighting and a visual glide slope indicator to enhance visibility for approaching the airport.

Chester County: New Garden Flying Field - $5,400 to assist in developing municipal hazard zoning ordinances.

Clearfield County: Clearfield-Lawrence Airport - $37,500 to acquire airfield maintenance equipment.

Dauphin County: Bendigo Airport - $37,500 to acquire airfield maintenance equipment.

Indiana County: Indiana County/Jimmy Stewart Airport - $18,750 to conduct environmental wetland monitoring.

Luzerne County: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport - $300,000 to expand the airfield fuel facility.

McKean County: Bradford Regional Airport - $37,500 to acquire airfield maintenance equipment.

Mercer County:

• Greenville Municipal Airport - $7,500 to acquire airfield mowing equipment.
• Grove City Regional Airport - $123,750 to acquire airfield maintenance equipment and snow removal equipment.

Washington County: Finleyville Airpark - $165,000 to prepare a site for new hangars and acquire land to remove obstructions to its runway approach area.

Westmoreland County: Rostraver Airport - $30,000 to acquire airfield maintenance equipment.

York County: York Airport - $238,500 to remove obstructions within the runway approach area. 

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor