Press Release

September 20, 2013
Cardin, Mikulski, Sarbanes Announce More Than $5.7 Million In Federal Grant Funding For Bwi Improvements

WASHINGTONU.S. Senators Ben Cardin, and Barbara A. Mikulski, along with Congressman John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced the Maryland Department of Transportation (DOT) and Maryland Aviation Administration have been awarded a $5,775,000 grant from the U.S. DOT to increase aircraft traffic flow at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

 

“Maryland jobs and billions in revenue for our state depend on maintaining BWI Marshall as a safe, dependable and efficient hub for domestic and international travel. Continued federal investment in BWI Marshall reflects our commitment to maintaining safety in the air and on the ground, as well as the health of our regional economy,” said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee.

 

“This federal funding is great news for BWI and for Maryland,” said Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee which funds DOT. “It means jobs today to construct the improvements to BWI’s runway infrastructure. And it means jobs tomorrow by ensuring that BWI remains a safe, efficient travel center and an economic engine for Maryland.”

 

“Each year, millions of passengers pass through BWI as they travel around the country, making the airport one of Maryland’s most important economic engines,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “This grant will make critical upgrades to BWI’s infrastructure that will increase capacity while keeping travelers safe. I will continue working hard to support federal investments that create jobs and grow our economy.”

 

These federal funds, administered through the Airport Improvement Program, are the first phase of a $44 million taxiway system improvement project to increase traffic flow at BWI. The funds will be used to relocate Taxiway D in accordance with FAA safety and design standards. Taxiway D will be moved to the proper runway separation to enhance airport capacity and allow increased operations during low visibility times. These improvements will complement the safety improvements being made to Runway 15R-33L, a $350 million project also partially funded through the Airport Improvement Program.

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