AERO - State's airport system gets $20.5 million lift

Air travel in Michigan will get a lift from $20.5 million in support for airports, including special federal funds for tighter security at the state's commercial service airports. The Michigan Department of Transportation announced today that 29 airports across the state will receive state and federal aid to enhance the safety and economic impact of aviation.

"Safe and efficient air travel is fundamental to our quality of life and growing," said State Transportation Director Gregory J. Rosine. "These grants will allow public-use airports to continue investing in the services and infrastructure needed to effectively move people and products across our state and beyond."

The Michigan Aeronautics Commission approved investing $14.1 million in runway rehabilitation projects, new terminal construction, airport lighting, land acquisitions, snow removal equipment and other airport capital improvements. Additionally, 14 commercial service airports received approval for $6.4 million in U.S. Department of Defense funds for terminal modifications, access-control fencing, vehicle barriers and other airport security measures.

The commission approved funds for the following projects:

$3,104,337 to Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport in Romulus for security projects and costs
$3,000,000 to Pellston Regional Airport in Pellston for second phase of terminal building construction
$2,600,000 to Otsego County Airport in Gaylord to rehabilitate and widen taxiway 9/27 and install high-intensity runway lights
$1,417,000 to Alpena County Regional Airport in Alpena to expand parking lot and hangar area, crack-seal taxiways, construct freight ramp, relocate security fence, mark runways and taxiways, and rehabilitate vault
$1,136,000 to Muskegon County Airport in Muskegon for land acquisition/reimbursement
$1,125,000 to W. K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek for taxiway D construction and improvements to runway safety area
$1,080,000 to Sawyer International Airport in Marquette to rehabilitate runway slabs
$1,041,519 to Capital City Airport in Lansing for security projects and costs
$800,000 to Delta County Airport in Escanaba for relocating entrance road, expanding parking lot and acquiring land
$762,065 to Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in Kalamazoo for security projects and costs
$722,000 to Houghton County Memorial Airport in Hancock for perimeter road construction, new snow removal equipment, and security fencing
$689,309 to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids for security projects and costs
$398,000 to Padgham Field in Allegan to rehabilitate runway 10/28
$333,334 to Owosso Community Airport in Owosso to extend parallel taxiway for runway 10/28
$333,333 to Manistee County-Blacker Airport in Manistee for rehabilitating and widening runway 18/36
$287,233 to Tuscola Area Airport in Caro to extend runway 5/23
$286,672 to MSB International Airport in Saginaw for security projects and costs
$265,333 to Brooks Field in Marshall for rehabilitating original terminal apron area and taxiway A, and installing security fencing
$242,884 to Bishop International Airport in Flint for security projects and costs
$184,705 to Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City for security projects and costs
$166,667 to Menominee-Marinette Twin Cities Airport in Menominee to construct taxistreets and associated drainage
$161,876 to Oakland Southwest Airport in New Hudson for clearing runway safety area and approach
$137,000 to Livingston County Airport in Howell to design wetland mitigation
$109,667 to Antrim County Airport in Bellaire for constructing taxistreets and rehabilitating taxiway
$40,000 to Mackinac Island Airport on Mackinac Island for windsock and runway end identifier lights
$33,333 to Paul C. Miller - Sparta Airport in Sparta to rehabilitate taxiway and apron, clear trees and construct taxistreets
$33,058 to Muskegon County Airport in Muskegon for security projects and costs
$27,958 to Sawyer International Airport in Marquette for security projects and costs
$15,065 to Houghton County Memorial Airport in Hancock for security projects and costs
$9,315 to Chippewa County International Airport in Sault Ste. Marie for security projects and costs
$7,426 to Delta County Airport in Escanaba for security projects and costs
$4,774 to Ford Airport in Iron Mountain for security projects and costs
$1,538 to Pellston Regional Airport in Pellston for security projects and costs

The commission's approval clears the way for issuance of the federal portion of the funds. Federal and state dollars for airport development come primarily from restricted, user-generated funds. The primary sources of revenue are aviation fuel, passenger taxes and aircraft registration fees.