JFK Airport Awarded $6.9 M For Taxiway Improvements

United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced last Thursday that John F. Kennedy International Airport has been awarded nearly $7 million by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation for taxiway rehabilitation. The grant awarded is worth $6.9 million and will be used for taxiway improvements, including pavement rehabilitation. This funding will in turn increase safety and reduce delays at the airport that have often plagued travelers and cost New Yorkers time and huge amounts of money.

"This is great news for New Yorkers and anyone who has plans to travel through John F. Kennedy International Airport," Schumer said. "These taxiway improvements will increase safety and obliterate many of the frustrating delays that we have all experienced at New York City's largest airport. These funds will greatly improve traveling for New Yorkers and travelers across the world."

The grant, disbursed by the FAA under the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), has been awarded to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and totals $6,910,152. The grant will provide federal funding for phase II to rehabilitate Taxiways S, SC SD and SR at JFK. The existing pavements are in very poor condition and require rehabilitation to ensure airfield safety.

Last May, Schumer released a report detailing how the chaos in New York skies is not only driving passengers crazy but also costing them, the airlines, and the New York City economy billions. According to Schumer's report, the record flight delays in the New York City area cost an estimated $4.9 billion in lost productivity, cancelled vacations, increased fuel costs and other economic impacts last year alone. Schumer said total cost of domestic air traffic delays to the U.S. economy was as much as $41 billion for 2007 and also added that New Yorkers bear the brunt of these costs because they endure the worst delays in the nation and the city's airports are the business intersection of the country.