Pennsylvania airports get $10.5 million in stimulus funds

Four Pennsylvania airports received $10.5 million in federal economic-stimulus money yesterday, including $5 million for Philadelphia International.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood signed a $5 million check, joined by Gov. Rendell, Mayor Nutter, and members of Congress from the Philadelphia area.

Most of the money will be used for runway improvements.

Besides Philadelphia International, Northeast Philadelphia Airport will get $1 million; Lancaster Airport will receive $3.5 million; and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport will get $1 million.

The Federal Aviation Administration received $1.1 billion to allocate to airports across the United States.

Philadelphia International will use the $5 million, plus $8.8 million in grants from the FAA, to repave its longest (10,500 feet) and widest runway, said Mark Gale, acting Philadelphia aviation director.

The first phase of the runway improvement, paid for by other funds, was to replace the electrical and lighting systems. After the runway is repaved with asphalt, Gale said, "it will withstand aircraft for the next 20 years."

Handling the largest aircraft that land in Philadelphia, the runway known as 9Right/27Left is equipped with advanced instrument-landing and approach-lighting systems that permit airplanes to take off and land during the most severe weather and low-visibility conditions.

Gale said the project would begin in June and was expected to create more than 295 jobs.

Northeast Philadelphia Airport will use the $1 million to improve two taxiways. That project, also to start in June, is expected to create more than 45 jobs.

"The dollars will be well-spent and provide opportunities for jobs and for enhanced safety," LaHood told a crowd in the International Terminal A-West.

Rendell said: "There are many, many projects backlogged and waiting to go and need additional help to put the first shovel in the ground."

On March 9, the state authorized 242 projects to spend $1.26 billion in economic-recovery funds throughout Pennsylvania.

Rendell said 43 of the projects already were under contract and would begin the last week of April.

"Pennsylvania is coming back to work," Rendell said. "It's just what we needed."