Federal grant to pay for work
By:John Patten
Central Jersey Regional Airport will receive more than $580,000 in federal funds for tarmac and taxi lane improvements, and an automated weather observing system.
Airport President Joe Horner said the work is part of the airport’s ongoing work to move operations toward the northwest part of the airport, to move activity further from residences in Manville, as well as to improve safety for pilots using the airport.
"Most everything we’ve done here now has been related to safety," he said.
Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants Tuesday. Mr. Horner said many regional airports throughout New Jersey have been applying for and receiving grants to help maintain the viability of the state’s 35 remaining regional airports.
"I think what’s happening in the scheme of things is that as more and more airports go away, there’s a growing need for smaller ones to take up the slack," Mr. Horner said.
The nearly 60-year-old airport plans to build a series of new hangars for planes, and the grant funds will be used to build the roadways planes will use to taxi to the area where the hangars will be built.
Mr. Horner said engineering and design work on the taxi lanes is being done, and that while no date has been set to begin construction, he hopes "to get going before winter."
"Now that Central Jersey Regional has the money to build new taxi lanes to support airport operations from the new hangars, this will be a great convenience for pilots," said Sen. Lautenberg said in a statement on the grants.
The airport will also receive $50,160 to install an automated weather observing system (AWOS), a minute-by-minute tracking system that is the primary tool airports use to determine incoming weather patterns. It also sends ground conditions to pilots landing at the airport.
"Fliers from the airport will also be able to continuously track weather patterns, ensuring safer operations," Sen. Lautenberg said.
"These federal grants are vital aid for the Central Jersey Regional airport, which will improve its infrastructure as it continues to move forward with plans to develop and expand the airport," said Sen. Menendez. "One particular grant will provide funds to monitor weather systems that will make traveling safer. This is a win-win for travelers and for the economic development of the region."
Mr. Horner said the airport has also been making improvements to the grounds at the airport, including new fences and lighting, and planting 314 trees.
The airport has been working under a development plan announced in January 2004 incorporating recommendations from a citizens’ panel, along with the DOT, Hillsborough Township and the Borough of Manville. Development rights to the site were purchased by the New Jersey Department of Transportation for $4.2 million in 2003.