KDOT announces Phase I of airport funding

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Twenty-one projects have been selected to receive funding to enhance safety and service at public-use airports in the state through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program.

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, which manages the program, received 118 applications for projects totaling more than $42 million.

Recognizing the needs of continued investment in aviation infrastructure, the 2010 Kansas Legislature passed the T-WORKS transportation program and gave the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) a funding level of $5 million a year.

“The project selection process remains highly competitive,” said Jesse R. Romo, KDOT Director of Aviation. “One of the challenges is to balance the needs of local growth while maintaining the existing system at a high level; and the selected projects help us do just that.”

Under guidelines of the program, project sponsors are required to pay a minimum of five percent of the total project costs up to a maximum of 50 percent, depending on project category.

The awarded projects represent approximately $1.4 million in total state contributions. The remaining projects will be announced at a later date under Phase II of the program.

“We are excited to announce these projects that demonstrate our commitment as a state to the airport system,” said Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King.  “These are great projects to kick off the 2016 KAIP program.”

The following is a list of the FY 2016 airport improvement projects and the funding requested:

• Benton, Stearman Field – pavement maintenance and repair, $7,850
• Colby – pavement maintenance and repair, $5,175
• Dodge City – planning, airspace protection, $38,000
• Ellsworth – pavement maintenance and repair, $123,750
• Fredonia – safety/mitigation, tree removal, $31,500
• Jetmore – modernization, remark runway, $22,500
• Kinsley – self-service fuel system, $93,500
• La Crosse – pavement maintenance and repair, $22,500
• Moundridge – pavement maintenance and repair, $88,881
• Neodesha – self-service fuel system, $100,000
• Oakley – self-service fuel system, $100,000
• Oberlin – design/safety enhancement, runway intersection, $67,500
• Oberlin – land acquisition, $135,000
• Ottawa – on-site weather reporting system, $108,000
• Pittsburg – design runway and taxiway, $100,000
• Pratt – on-site weather reporting system, $108,000
• Rose Hill, Cook Airfield – pavement maintenance and repair, $5,400
• St. Francis – pavement maintenance and repair, $27,000
• Sublette – pavement maintenance and repair, $36,000
• Sublette – on-site weather reporting system, $108,000
• Washington – pavement maintenance and repair, $59,130