"Federal funds would enhance Illinois airport's system"

Friday, February 14, 2003
 
Federal funds would enhance airport's system 
By Matthew Kemeny 
The Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph


Travelers in Bloomington-Normal may see several improvements after Congress
overwhelmingly passed a bill allocating money for the airport, bus system
and Normal's proposed transportation center.

Included in the $397 billion package is $3 million to upgrade the instrument
landing system at Central Illinois Regional Airport; money for new buses for
the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System; and about $750,000 for the
Normal transportation center.

The Congress approved the measure Thursday, and the president was expected
to sign the bill over the weekend.

At the airport, the instrument landing system would help planes land in bad
weather. For travelers, the change would mean fewer cancellations and
delays.

"This improvement will make CIRA an invaluable airport in the Midwestern
region of the U.S.," said U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, a Republican from Urbana.
"It will enhance the facility's usability in inclement weather and reduce
delays, in addition to the economic development benefits it will allow for
McLean County and the region."

"This is huge," said airport Executive Director Mike La Pier said. "The
addition of this improvement dramatically improves the usefulness of this
airport to all of our users."

The only other Illinois airports with the upgraded system are O'Hare in
Chicago and the Greater Rockford Airport.


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