DOT 29-04
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-5582
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

U.S. Department of Transportation Delivers $8 Million for New Runway
at Minneapolis-St. Paul International

MINNEAPOLIS, MN— A senior U.S. Transportation Department official was on hand at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport today to deliver $8 million in federal funding to support completion of a new runway that is expected to dramatically boost the airport’s capacity by up to 29 percent. Today’s grant brings to $71 million the federal funding provided for the runway project, almost two-thirds of the eventual total federal commitment of $108.7 million.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Emil Frankel was joined by Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau and Vicki Grunseth, Metropolitan Airports Commission chairwoman, for a tour of the runway and other aspects of the airport’s multi-billion-dollar expansion project.

“This Administration understands the need to expand airport capacity and harness new technology to meet increased airspace demand and keep America moving. This money is a reflection of that commitment,” Assistant Secretary Frankel said.

“This airport is at the epicenter of economic activity in Minnesota,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said. “The impact of this grant money will be like a positive economic tremor throughout the state.”

Minneapolis-St. Paul International’s new north-south runway 17/35 will operate almost independently of the other runways, resulting in a 26 to 29 percent gain in capacity. The runway will be completed in October 2005 as part of a long-standing partnership between the Metropolitan Airports Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The $8 million funding award is provided through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration, which support’s the nation’s airport infrastructure by providing grants for capital improvements.

Briefing Room