07.21.03

Cantwell Announces Funding to Improve Local Airports

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell today announced Washington state local airports will receive over $2.8 million for airport improvement and safety. The Airport Improvement Grant program is administered by the Department of Transportation.

"Our community airports need to be in top-notch condition and running efficiently in order to ensure Washingtonians can travel safely," said Cantwell. "Local airports will now be able to make some of the necessary improvements and upgrades on the runways and terminals to help guarantee safer landings for airplanes and their passengers."

Recipients of the Airport Improvement Grant include:

Wilbur Municipal Airport and Davenport Airport: $337,730 This project will improve Runway 20 safety area at Wilbur and will provide for tiedown space for the airport and also improve safety as the existing tiedown area was too close to the runway at Davenport.

Snohomish County Airport/ Paine Field: $400,000 This is the third phase of the project to rehabilitate the airfield lighting. Currently the airport experiences significant outages associated with direct buried cables, transformers and old lighting equipment. A Precision Approach Path Indication (PAPI) will be installed on Runway 34L. The Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs) on Runway 16L will be replaced.

Auburn Municipal Airport: $445,242 This Runway rehabilitation grant will extend the useful service life of the pavement.

Arlington Municipal Airport: $300,000 Extension of Taxiway B and Construction of Taxiway E will improve aircraft traffic flow.

Pierce County Airport, Thun Field: $150,000 The installation of perimeter fencing and the obstructions (trees) removal work will improve the safety at the airport.

Chelan Municipal Airport: $157,000 This project will provide land for future aviation development.

Pangborn Memorial Airport, Wenatchee: $67,5000 This grant will improve passenger facilities in the terminal building.

Ed Carlson Memorial Field, Toledo: $998,940 The runway rehabilitation grant will extend the useful service life of the pavement. Other runway grants (improve runway safety area, install precision approach path indicator and runway end identification lights, replace runway edge lights) will improve operational safety at the airport.

Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco: $1,023,100 The security enhancements are needed to provide protection to the passengers and airport. Improvements to Runway 21R safety area are needed for operational safety.