Saturday, March 11, 2000
Bill hands airport $7.1M
Growth-related projects are target
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HEBRON — An aggressive plan to expand the Tristate's main airport should stay on track with an infusion of more than $7 million from the federal government.
As part of a $40 billion spending bill for the Federal Aviation Administration that the U.S. Senate has approved, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will receive $7.1 million over the next three years for improvement, expansion and other projects related to the airport's growth.
The bill is expected to be approved by the U.S. House and signed by President Clinton.
“This is money we are going to use for our passengers and to keep the airport up and running and up to date,” said Joe Feiertag, a spokesman for the Kenton County Airport Board, which manages the airport.
U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, a Republican from Southgate, said the bill includes $90 million for 31 mostly small airports in Kentucky.
The largest chunk of money goes to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, followed by Blue Grass Airport in Lexington ($3.4 million) and Standiford Field in Louisville ($2.4 million).
“It's about time we passed this bill,” Mr. Bunning said. “The FAA recently forecast a 55 percent increase in air travel over the next 10 years.”
The Kenton County Airport Board has not decided how most of the money will be spent. But with about $200 million in projects under way or planned, there are plenty of places where funding is needed, Mr. Feiertag said.
At least $1 million will be used to help fund airfield paving for the $170 million hub that freight carrier DHL Worldwide Express is building on the south end of the airport.
Other airport projects the board is paying for or partially funding include a new parking garage, a new long-term parking lot and plan ning for new terminals.
In the past, the airport board has used FAA money to buy homes on land needed to build a new runway, or to soundproof homes under the flight path of jets.
While the airport is seeking approval for a new $100 million north-south runway, the board has not decided whether the funding will be used in planning and property acquisition for the project, Mr. Feiertag said.
The bill also allows the airport to raise the per-ticket passenger tax of $3 to $4.50. Airport officials have said the increase is likely.
The funding may also be used to buy new equipment for the air-traffic control tower.
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