FAA Proposes $20.1 Million in Grants for St. Paul Downtown
Airport
The Federal Aviation
Administration has notified Metropolitan Airports Commission
Chairwoman Vicki Tigwell of the FAA's plans to provide an
additional $20.1 million in federal Airport Improvement Program
(AIP) grants toward improvements at St. Paul Downtown Airport.
AIP grants are generated from user fees levied on aeronautical
activities. The FAA had already provided $4.6 million in 2005 for
development of an airfield sub-drain system. That system helps
prevent soil saturation and related impacts on airport pavements.
The new grants would be distributed over three years, beginning in
2006 and ending in 2008.
"We have worked closely with FAA officials, state and local
leaders, and Minnesota's Congressional Delegation for a number of
years to secure federal funding for these improvements to the
airport," Tigwell said.
"Our goal is to make the area's primary corporate reliever
airport as reliable for area businesses and as safe for travelers
as possible."
Flooding has closed the airport seven times, most recently in
2001, costing the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and
businesses millions of dollars in flood control, cleanup, loss of
use and similar expenses.
In addition to the FAA grants, funding for the airport
improvements will come from a variety of other sources: $6 million
from the Minnesota Department of Transportation Aeronautics
Department; $1 million in state bonding; $1 million in
contributions from Minnesota-based 3M corporation; and $13.5
million from the MAC.
The $20.1 million in FAA grants, coupled with $21.5 million from
other sources, will result in $41.6 million in airport enhancements
over a three-year period. The investment will protect the public's
investment in existing facilities, provide an added measure of
safety for airport users, and create construction jobs and related
economic activity -- all without requiring any investment from the
city of St. Paul.
None of the improvements expands the airport's capacity or
alters its focus on meeting the transportation needs of the
businesses and corporations that fuel the area's economy.
The FAA's funding plan announcement comes one week after the
agency issued a finding that the proposed floodwall and airfield
improvements would have no significant environmental impacts. The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency
and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources also have concluded
the proposed flood protection project, which includes compensatory
excavation of the river channel, will not cause increased flooding
elsewhere. Many private property owners along the river already
have flood protection walls in place. The proposed dike project
would simply ensure the airport also is protected from costly
flooding.
Airfield safety projects to receive FAA funding include runway
shortening and re-striping, lighting improvements, taxiway changes,
relocation of certain navigation equipment, and installation of
crushable concrete material at both ends of Runway 14/32, designed
to stop aircraft under emergency conditions.
An economic impact study of St. Paul Downtown Airport published
by Wilder Research last year estimates the airport generates $112
million annually for the area economy and supports 853 full-time
jobs. In all, 124 airplanes are based at the airport as well as 35
military aircraft.