Press Release

August 1, 2013
Mikulski, Cardin, Sarbanes Announce More Than $11 Million In Federal Grant Funding For BWI Improvements

WASHINGTONU.S. Ben Cardin and Senators 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 $11,309,730 grant from the U.S. DoT for runway safety enhancements and upgrades at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. 

 

“This grant ensures that BWI Marshall continues to be a safe, dependable, and efficient hub for domestic and international travel,” said Senator Cardin.  “BWI Marshall is a regional, economic engine, bringing about $5.9 billion in revenue a year to our state that creates and sustains quality jobs.  This grant reflects our commitment to constant progress regarding BWI’s safety and efficiency and the health of our local economy.”

 

“This is a smart investment in jobs today and jobs tomorrow,” said Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee which funds DOT. “It supports jobs today in construction by making needed improvements to BWI’s runway infrastructure. And it helps support jobs tomorrow by making sure BWI remains a safe, efficient travel center and an economic engine for Maryland.”

 

 

“BWI is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the country and it plays a vital role in Maryland’s economy,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “This critical investment will help upgrade runways to keep the airport safe for the millions of passengers who travel through each year.”

 

Federal grant funding awarded through the Airport Improvement Program will be used for the first phase of improvements to bring Runway 15R-33L up to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards, including a rehabilitation of the pavement, improved grading and stormwater management. The project is part of a multi-year, $350 million effort to bring all of BWI Marshall’s runways into compliance with federal safety standards by 2015.  This phase of the project is expected to cost $35.7 million and support more than 460 jobs.

 

###

X