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KCI gets almost $11.8M for upgrades
With the economy taking off, the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded two grants totaling almost $11.8 million to the Kansas City Aviation Department for apron rehabilitation, security enhancements and taxiway extensions at Kansas City International Airport.
Robert Sturgell, deputy administrator of the Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration, awarded the grants to the Kansas City Aviation Department during ceremonies at the airport Tuesday.
"These grants will help the airport meet the growing demand for air travel in this region," Sturgell said in a written release.
One grant for $5.3 million is for taxiway extension at KCI. The extension of Taxiway Bravo will provide dual, parallel taxiway operations for the full length of Runway 1L/19R. The improvement will reduce aircraft congestion west of Terminal B and improve access to Runway 1L.
Taxiway Delta also will be extended to allow parallel taxiway operations for the full length of Runway 9/27. This enhancement, too, will improve access to Runway 9 and reduce aircraft congestion west of Terminal B.
The extension of Taxiway Mike will provide a standard entrance to the Terminal A apron, improving aircraft circulation around Terminal A.
The other grant for $6.4 million will extend the useful life of Terminal A's runway apron and beef up security at KCI.
The grants for the improvements come from the Airport Improvement Program managed by the FAA. The program is budgeted to award $3.4 billion in grants to airports throughout the country in the current fiscal year.
"As our economy continues to grow, more and more Americans are taking to the skies," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in the release. "The Department of Transportation wants to make sure the resurgence in aviation continues to run smoothly, safely and securely through Kansas City."
© 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.