The Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton is
\nreceiving almost $5 million in federal funds to reconfigure a runway.<\/p>\n
The $4.96 million is part of the $17.5 million in grants
\nfrom the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program for
\ncrucial safety improvements to runways in small airports in Oregon, U.S. Sens.
\nRon Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Monday, July 25.<\/p>\n
In addition to the airport in Pendleton, the Corvallis
\nMunicipal Airport is receiving $2.79 million to reconstruct runway and update
\nlighting and the Crater Lake\/Klamath Regional Airport is getting $9.75 million
\nfor runway reconstruct.<\/p>\n
“Small airports’ reliable air service in rural areas is
\ncrucial for Oregonians and our state’s economy,” Wyden said. “I am
\ngratified to see these dollars go toward improving critical runway
\ninfrastructure that is often taken for granted when flying. Investing in airport
\ninfrastructure lays the groundwork for airports in Corvallis, Pendleton and
\nKlamath Falls to continue to support jobs, our state’s economic growth and
\ntourism.”<\/p>\n
“Regional airports are vital in connecting rural
\ncommunities to economic opportunities across the state and beyond,”
\nMerkley said. “This funding for airports in Corvallis, Pendleton and
\nKlamath Falls will help to improve the critical infrastructure that we rely on
\nwhen flying that is critical for businesses in those communities to thrive. These
\nimprovements will not only support the airport, but local economies of these
\ncities and Oregon as a whole.”<\/p>\n
Steve Chrisman, Pendleton economic development director and
\ninterim airport manager, in the announcement said the Eastern Oregon Regional
\nAirport was thankful to receive the grant funding for mitigation of a hot spot
\narea on Runway 29.<\/p>\n
“The airport has been experiencing unprecedented growth
\nfor the last several years, which requires safe and structurally sound runways
\nand taxiways,” according to Chrisman. “Sens. Wyden and Merkley have
\nbeen stalwart supporters of the airport and the Pendleton Unmanned Aerial
\nSystem Range, and this funding will help alleviate a long-standing problem for
\nairfield users.”<\/p>\n
The city proposed an airport project to relocate Runway 29’s
\nthreshold, build new taxi lanes and rehabilitate aprons in March. The
\nengineer’s cost estimate was $4.5 to $5.5 million.<\/p>\n
“We put together the proposal with the FAA,”
\nChrisman said, “and added it to the capital improvement plan list.”<\/p>\n
The Airport Improvement Program grant is funding upcoming
\nprojects, he added.<\/p>\n
“This was in the works for quite some time,”
\nChrisman said. “It’s a dangerous intersection. Now the grant is awarded, but
\nit was on the list already.”<\/p>\n
Projects on the capital improvement project list receive
\ngrants on a five-year plan, he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Our priority for the next round of funding is to
\nextend the wildlife fence,” Chrisman concluded.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton is receiving almost $5 million in federal funds to reconfigure a runway. The $4.96 million is part of the $17.5 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program for crucial safety improvements to runways in small airports in Oregon, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-in-the-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n