Some smaller airports in Central New York, North Country, and Southern Tier will benefit from state funding for infrastructure improvements.
New York State has awarded a total of nearly $21 million for improvements at 24 public-use airports. The funding amounts include $2.4 million at facilities in Central New York, $5.2 million at some airports in the North Country, and $3.1 million at facilities in the Southern Tier.
The state funding will improve safety, facilitate innovation, leverage existing resources; advance business development, and “promote sustainability and resilience” at these airports, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
Administered by the New York State Department of Transportation, projects funded through the aviation capital-investment program include the construction of new security and access-control improvements; deployment of new automated weather monitoring systems; and the construction and rehabilitation of new and existing hangars and aircraft-refueling facilities. These investments will serve to make the surrounding communities “more economically competitive with neighboring states,” Hochul’s office contends.
Central New York
The Hamilton Municipal Airport in Madison County will use $1.3 million toward the safe removal/disposal of the existing aged fueling facility and construction of a new, “environmentally friendly” refueling facility.
Chase Field Airport in Cortland County will use a $1.1 million grant to help pay for the replacement and relocation of existing underground fuel storage tanks, located over a single-source aquifer, with above-ground fuel spill containment tanks.
North Country
The state also awarded $900,000 for the rehabilitation of the Massena International Airport in St. Lawrence County for New York State Police and New York State Power Authority operations.
The Potsdam Municipal Airport in St. Lawrence County will use $500,000 to deploy new security technologies, including new gates, access control and security-camera systems, and to help pay for parking-area improvements.
A $1.5 million grant award will help the Watertown International Airport pay for the safe removal/disposal of the existing aged fueling facility and construction of a new above ground refueling facility.
The Ogdensburg International Airport in St. Lawrence County will use $900,000 toward the purchase of emergency backup generators; enhancements to security, access and communications systems; and safety related equipment.
Southern Tier
The Greater Binghamton Airport will use $1.5 million in state funding toward the installation of energy-efficient lighting and replacement of its revenue-control system.
In addition, a $200,000 grant will help the Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport in Norwich pay for energy efficiency jet hangar improvements, including high-efficiency heating and LED (light-emitting diode) lighting and general hangar-rehabilitation activities.
The Corning-Painted Post Airport will use an award of $100,000 to help pay for the acquisition of service equipment to maintain operations during inclement weather events.
The Elmira Corning Regional Airport will use a $1.3 million grant toward reconstruction of an existing building into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility to retain international passenger flights.