Senators announce over $2.5 million

    WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins (R-Maine) recently announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $2,594,741 in transportation funding for air travel improvement projects in Maine.     “The people of Maine depend on safe and efficient air travel to stay connected to the rest of the country and the world,” Sens. Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. “These funds will make necessary infrastructure improvements to airports across the state, keeping travel services safe and Mainers in the air.”
    The funding is being distributed as follows:
• $1,177,843 to Portland — This grant will be used for the preliminary engineering and design for a runway safety area construction project at Portland International Jetport;
• $166,818 to Bethel — This grant will be used for an airport master plan update at Bethel Regional Airport;
• $222,266 to Princeton — These funds will be used to expand the aircraft parking apron at Princeton Municipal Airport to meet the growing need for parking space;
• $285,000 to the County of Knox — This grant will provide funding for terminal building construction at Knox County Regional Airport;
• $99,943 to the State of Maine — These funds will be used for runway improvements at Augusta State Airport in Augusta;
• $453,818 to Presque Isle – This grant will be used for a taxiway extension project and the installation of perimeter fencing at Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle;
• $70,303 to the Cities of Auburn and Lewiston — Funds will be used for an environmental assessment for Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. The assessment will review the environmental impacts associated with standard runway end safety areas; and
• $118,750 to the county of Knox — This grant will allow for the rehabilitation of a runway at Knox County Regional Airport in Rockland.
    The Department of Transportation (DOT) aims to improve safety, increase mobility in support of the nation’s economy, protect human and natural environment, achieve organizational excellence and support the national security strategy.