FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 25, 1998
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel: (202) 366-5571
DOT 33-98

VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND SECRETARY SLATER
ANNOUNCE AIRPORT GRANTS FOR TEXAS

Vice President Al Gore and Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced the award of $75.5 million for improvements at airports in Texas.

"Traffic at Texas’ airports has helped fuel the region’s vibrant economy," said Vice President Gore. "President Clinton and I are committed to strengthening economic security and improving transportation safety. This investment is good for the economy of Texas and our nation."

Of the total, $21.8 million went to the state government for projects at some 24 general aviation and reliever airports throughout the state. Projects will include airport master plan studies, runway and taxiway reconstruction and extension, acquisition of land for safety areas, lighting upgrades and installation of navigation and visual aids.

Individual airports receiving grants:

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport -- $18 million to construct a taxiway holding bay, and a separate grant of $8.5 million to update the airport’s master plan, install airport signs and visual approach aids, rehabilitate runways and acquire land for noise compatibility.
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Bergstrom -- $11.3 million to construct and reconstruct runways, taxiways and aprons, construct an access road and acquire land, and a separate grant of $3 million to relocate schools for noise mitigation. Austin-Bergstrom is being redeveloped from the recently closed Bergstrom Air Force Base.
• Dallas Love Field, Dallas -- $3.9 million to install security fencing and rehabilitate runway and taxiway lighting.
• Jefferson County Airport, Beaumont/Port Arthur -- $1.9 million to construct an aircraft rescue and fire fighting station and improve the runway safety area.
• Rio Grande Valley International Airport, Harlingen -- $1 million to improve the terminal building and acquire an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle, $675,000 to overlay a runway, and $558,270 to rehabilitate an apron.
• Amarillo International Airport, Amarillo -- $1.6 million to acquire an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle, rehabilitate a runway and construct an access road.
• Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, Brownsville -- $1.3 million to acquire an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle, install a security system and rehabilitate taxiways, $217,940 to improve drainage, and $33,523 to improve the terminal building.
• McAllen Miller International Airport, McAllen -- $863,475 to relocate an access road.
• Tyler Pounds Field, Tyler -- $656,264 to rehabilitate an apron.
• Gregg County Airport, Longview -- $158,000 to expand the aircraft rescue and fire fighting building.

The funds come from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program.

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