The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has made safety upgrades of $15 million at the Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) possible, U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Thursday.
This $15 million Recovery Act grant is one of the largest awarded by the FAA, and it will ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of aircraft at BWI with the upgrades. When completed next year, BWI’s reconstructed aircraft parking apron between Concourses C and D will allow for more efficient operations among larger aircraft and service vehicles.
The projects also include a new environmentally friendly deicing fluid collection system and new communications and utility systems.
U.S Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari during a press conference at BWI lauded the ongoing safety, environmental, communications, and utility projects at BWI, and recognized the importance of the Recovery Act.
“Recovery Act funding made these safety projects possible,” Porcari stated during the press conference. “Not only are we keeping Marylanders at work, we are also improving airport safety and efficiency.”
“Recovery Act funds are making a difference at our nation’s airports,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “These projects will ensure that BWI continues to meet the safety needs of the airport and traveling public.”
Without Recovery Act dollars, construction on this critical $41 million project could not have gotten under way. The rest of the project is being funded by the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program funds and BWI Airport.
The Recovery Act funded an additional $35 million in upgrades at airport runways and aircraft parking aprons in and around the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Nationwide, $1.3 billion in Recovery Act money has been made available for both airport improvement projects and air traffic control facility and system upgrades. Because of low construction bids for projects, more Recovery Act dollars were available for additional facilities and equipment and airport projects.
These Recovery Act grants have been distributed to airports that serve commercial passengers, cargo and general aviation.
