"Phoenix gets $28 mil for airport fix ups"

Thursday, May 13, 2004

Phoenix gets $28 mil for airport fix ups
By Ginger D. Richardson
The Arizona Republic


PHOENIX - The city received more than $28 million in federal grants this
week for improvements in and around Sky Harbor International Airport.

Just more than $20 million in funding will go toward taxiway reconstruction,
officials said. The improvements are necessary to fix damage caused by
extreme heat from the Valley's climate and jets, officials said.

The federal funds will complete the design of three taxiways at the airport
and will help pay for grading, striping, lighting and guidance signs.

"We rely heavily on the federal government for things like this," Acting
Aviation Director David Cavazos said. "This is crucial."

Reconstruction will take six to 12 months, Cavazos said, but will have
little impact on passengers.

The city also received a separate grant for $7.8 million toward the purchase
of 47 homes near the airport. The residents who live in the properties are
being relocated to areas of the city where they won't be as affected by
airport traffic and noise, officials said.

Both grants are administered by the Federal Aviation Administration, which
is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Sky Harbor is the nation's fifth-busiest airport with 1,600 takeoffs and
landings each day.


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