Friday, April 17, 2009
Contact: Jill Zuckman
Tel.: (202) 366-4570
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $6.2 Million in Economic Recovery Funds for Edward F. Knapp State Airport
(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced a $6.2 million federal grant to rehabilitate a runway at Edward F. Knapp State Airport in Barre/Montpelier, VT, a project estimated to create 54 direct and indirect jobs. The funds were made available by the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Secretary LaHood was joined by VT Governor Jim Douglas, Lt. Governor Brian Dubie and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for today’s grant announcement at Knapp State Airport in Montpelier.
“This money will put people to work in Vermont while providing an important investment in airport safety. That means boosting the economy in the short term through job creation and sustaining economic recovery in the long-term by making airports more efficient and secure,” said Sec. LaHood.
Gov. Douglas added, “This project is a great example of the economic good that can be provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In the short term, construction projects like this one will provide employment opportunities for Americans in need of work during the current economic downturn. In the long term, this project will have a lasting impact that will keep local businesses viable and competitive for years to come.”
“This grant is another example of how the economic stimulus package is rebuilding our infrastructure and moving America in a dramatic new direction by creating millions of good-paying jobs,” said Sen. Sanders.
“As a military and commercial pilot for the last 27 years, I know why the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have both identified taxiway and runway safety as a top priority,” said Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie. “This ARRA investment in Vermont’s aviation infrastructure will directly enhance safety at one of our state’s premier airports, and equip it to serve the area’s aviation needs for many years to come.”
Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter Welch earlier this year secured the first $950,000 for the airport project, which will be added to the $6.2 million in new funding announced Friday by Secretary LaHood.
Senator Leahy said, “I appreciate Secretary LaHood coming to Vermont for this announcement. Vermonters have been working hard since before the economic recovery bill was even signed into law to be ready to take advantage of new opportunities like this to help restart our economy and to lay the groundwork for Vermont’s future. This infusion of federal funds for the Knapp Airport will build on the state’s previous planning and design work and the earlier federal investment we secured earlier this year for this project, so we can complete these needed safety improvements more quickly.”
“By investing in the rehabilitation of the Knapp State Airport, the federal government is showing its commitment not only to reviving our flagging economy, but also to rebuilding key components of our transportation infrastructure,” Congressman Welch said. “This project will help create jobs in Vermont, while increasing the economic viability of the Barre/Montpelier region. I commend President Obama and Secretary LaHood for promptly releasing these funds and immediately investing in Vermont’s future.”
The funds will be used to rehabilitate and reconfigure runway 5-23 to allow the construction of a full parallel taxiway to the airport’s primary runway 17-35. The terminal apron also will be modified to serve the newly rehabilitated runway as well as the primary runway.
About 3,400 airports designated as part of the national airport system are eligible to receive ARRA funds. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving swiftly to work with airport sponsors to ensure eligible projects have completed or nearly completed, design and planning requirements.
Under ARRA, $1.1 billion was authorized for qualified airports to be allocated by the FAA on a discretionary basis. That funding will be distributed based on a project priority system that addresses airport safety and security, infrastructure, runway safety, increased capacity, and mitigation of environmental impacts.
Sec. LaHood said the Obama Administration is committed to getting ARRA funding into the economy as quickly as possible. He noted that President Obama signed ARRA into law on February 17, less than one month after taking the oath of office. Less than two weeks later, on March 3, Sec. LaHood joined President Obama and Vice President Biden at the U.S. Department of Transportation in marking the release of the first transportation infrastructure project funds. On Monday, under six weeks after the first announcement, President Obama and Vice President Biden joined Secretary LaHood once again to announce funding for the 2,000th transportation project.
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