Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Announces Upgrades, Safety Enhancements at Nine Airports

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A $10 million state investment will fund important projects at nine airports across Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett said today.

"Thousands of people rely on the aviation industry for jobs," Governor Corbett said. "These funds will help ensure that the airports continue to run safely and can meet the demands of their regional economies."

The grants are distributed through the Capital Budget/Transportation Assistance Program, which is funded through state capital bond dollars in the General Fund budget. The grants leverage more than $12 million in matching funds. Authorized by the General Assembly, the grants are administered by PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation.

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

Media contacts:

Erin Waters, 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: Pittsburgh International Airport -- $2 million to construct a stormwater treatment plant.

Berks County: Reading Regional Airport/Carl A. Spaatz Field-- $600,000 to improve a site to restore a hangar.

Bucks County: Quakertown Airport -- $185,000 to acquire land to remove runway obstructions.

Butler County: Butler County Airport -- $1 million to replace the terminal building's mechanical systems and roof, construct additional hangars and replace the existing maintenance hangar's siding.  

Columbia County: Bloomsburg Municipal Airport -- $500,000 to rehabilitate an airport building, including replacing electrical wiring and the heating system.  

Erie County: Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field -- $2.4 million to extend a runway, which will allow larger aircraft operations and enhance safety during winter operations.

Indiana County: Indiana County/Jimmy Stewart Airport -- $1.5 million to complete the relocation and extension of the current runway.

Lehigh County: Lehigh Valley International Airport -- $1.5 million to construct a passenger screening area and a connecting walkway, and for renovations and additions to the satellite departure building. 

Schuylkill County: Schuylkill County/Joe Zerbey Airport -- $300,000 to construct a hangar. 

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor