Stimulus Watch: Thanks to Low Bids, FAA Awards More Airport Grants
Benefiting from favorable bids, the Federal Aviation Administration has been able to stretch its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds a bit further, awarding five more airport construction grants, totaling $9.1 million.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "Earlier ARRA projects came in under budget and these savings can now be applied to other projects."
FAA said Sept. 9 that the largest of the five new stimulus grants is $3.4 million to MBS International Airport--that's Midland, Bay City and Saginaw, Mich.--for additional work on the airport terminal.
Yeager Airport in Charleston, W.Va., receives $2.6 million for its terminal, including a pedestrian bridge.
Other grantees are: Killeen Skylark Field in Texas, which receives $2.4 million for runway and taxiway work; Burlington International Airport in Vermont ($452,100); and Avi Suquilla Airport in Parker, Ariz. ($310,000).
In all, FAA received $1.1 billion in the stimulus measure for airport infrastructure projects, plus $200 million for air traffic control improvements.