U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko today announced $1,558,815 in federal funding is being awarded to the Albany International Airport for needed snow removal equipment and security enhancements. The funding is allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration.
“Making sure our runways are clear for takeoff, especially during winter weather, is essential for the safety of our New York travelers,” said Senator Schumer. “Removing snow from airport runways safely and efficiently so flights can continue to operate on time is important for travelers, for Albany International Airport, and for our economy overall.”
“These are smart and important investments for Albany International Airport,” Senator Gillibrand said. “With new snow equipment and enhanced security, we’ll be better prepared to respond to winter storms and the airport will be in compliance with security regulations, which will help keep runways safe and clear, provide safer service for travelers and businesses, and allow the airport to continue to serve as vital infrastructure for the Capital Region’s economy.”
“Our local airports are huge drivers of the local economy, and ensuring that they have the tools they need to provide safe and convenient travel to the business community and leisure travelers is critical to achieve the economic growth that we are all working toward in our region,” said Congressman Tonko. “I applaud John O’Donnell and his team at Albany International for the important work they do each and every day.”
“This grant will enable the Airport to install additional new and state-of-the-art security equipment that is vital to our mission of providing for the safety of the traveling public, our airlines and staff,” said John O’Donnell, CEO of the Albany County Airport Authority.
In an effort to keep Albany International Airport serviceable during snow periods, the $1,120,087 in federal funding will be used to purchase snow removal equipment, specifically two snow/sand trucks and one snow/sand loader. Funding will also be used to purchase a glycol recovery truck to enhance the efficiency and safety of operations during the collection and removal of de-icing fluids on the airport. Another $438,728 will go towards critical security enhancements to the airport’s terminal access controls system.
The funding for Albany International Airport is part of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and is administered by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Airport Improvement Program provides grants to public agencies for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).