The State of Pennsylvania was honored to receive the first economic recovery funds from the American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act (ARRA). On March 12, 2009, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Pittsburgh International Airport would receive $10 million as part of the recovery package and $2 million would go to the Allegheny County Airport. Actual grant awards, based on competitive bidding costs, were $9.8 million and $1.5 million respectively.
Pittsburgh International Airport
The $9.8 million stimulus project at the Pittsburgh International Airport will rehabilitate runway 14-32, one of the four runways used by commercial flights that brings 8.7 million passengers a year through the airport. These funds will be utilized to rehabilitate airfield pavement, make grading improvements and update pavement markings, airfield signage and lighting systems. Runway 14-32 is a critical part of the airport’s operations in that it serves as the primary nighttime arrival runway, and is the airport’s preferential runway for noise abatement procedures.
Allegheny County Airport
At the Allegheny County Airport, the $1.5 million of stimulus funding were used to renovate and reconfigure parts of four taxiways and aircraft apron areas, and will allow for the future construction of aircraft maintenance hangars and their associated ramp space. Moreover, the reconfiguration associated with this project will allow the airport to construct the necessary infrastructure that is so critical for future aviation/airport industry demands, while also correcting an antiquated physical layout.
Not only will these funds make space available for the construction of much-needed aircraft maintenance hangar facilities. According to an Economic Impact Study, an estimated 16 secondary jobs will be created from jobs associated with the new hangars and the long-term creation of aircraft maintenance and operations positions.
-By Vicky Houghton, Sr. Mgr. Communications & Marketing