Acting PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards announced last week that a $9.7 million state investment will improve safety and operations at six Pennsylvania airports. “With aviation supporting thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania, it’s vital that we ensure airports in Pennsylvania can make safety and operational upgrades,” Secretary Richards said. “These projects are also investments in the communities these airports serve.”
The grants are distributed through the Aviation Transportation Assistance Program, which is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds. The grants leverage more than $8.3 million in local matching funds. Authorized by the General Assembly, the grants are administered by PennDOT’s Bureau of Aviation.
The following is a list of impacted airports, the amount of funding, and a brief description of the projects:
Allegheny County:
Allegheny County Airport — $2.9 million to rehabilitate the severely deteriorated terminal public parking lot and sidewalks.
Bucks County:
• Doylestown Airport — $487,500 to acquire property within the airport’s runway protection to remove approach obstructions.
• Quakertown Airport — $180,000 to acquire property adjacent to the airport that is needed to remove obstructions to maintain a clear approach to the runway.
Lawrence County:
New Castle Municipal Airport — $100,000 to construct a hangar addition that will support growth at the airport.
Luzerne County:
Hazleton Municipal Airport — $300,000 to acquire two existing, privately owned hangars for new aircraft and equipment.
Lycoming County:
Williamsport Regional Airport — $5 million to construct a new airport terminal designed to improve access, airport security and safety, as well as $750,000 to relocate the airport fuel farm to allow for construction of the new airport terminal.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us.
