Runway Extension To Help Meet Demand For Air Service

8-20-96
University Park, Pa. -- The construction of the extension of the main runway at the University Park Airport in Centre County will begin this fall and continue a long-range improvement plan designed to meet the existing and growing demand for air service by Central Pennsylvania travelers.

The airport serves as a gateway for Penn State and other major employers in the region, and is the seventh busiest airport out of 16 scheduled service airports in the Commonwealth, with nearly 200,000 passengers using the airline terminal last year.

State and federal transportation officials joined Penn State administrators in a groundbreaking ceremony today (Aug. 20) at the General Aviation Terminal/Airport Administration Building east of the Airline Terminal. Scheduled speakers included: U.S. Rep. William Clinger; State Rep. J. Doyle Corman; Elizabeth Voras, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary of Transportation for Aviation, Rails and Ports; Charles Mong, director of Centre County Chamber of Business and Industry; Lawrence Walsh, Federal Aviation Administration; and Gary Schultz, Penn State senior vice president for finance and business and treasurer.

With the receipt of the final $11.9 million in grants from the FAA and PaDOT in May, the last of the funding was in place for the runway extension. About $6.1 million had been previously released for design, engineering and the initial construction phase of the project from federal and state agencies. The total project cost is estimated at approximately $18 million. The project includes the lengthening of the runway from its current 5,000 feet to an ultimate length of 6,700 feet as well as other supporting infrastructure improvements.

The runway extension stemmed from the need of corporate aircraft and some commuter aircraft for additional runway length to allow them to carry their designed load of passengers, baggage and fuel on hot days. The project also includes the replacement of aging runway and taxiway lighting and wiring, the widening of taxiways to bring them to current standards and the repair and strengthening of existing 20-year-old pavement.

The airport is home to nearly 40-based aircraft and hosts 54,000 takeoffs and landings a year. Three airlines -- USAir, United and Northwest -- have established nearly 40 regularly scheduled daily flights to and from the hub cities of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C. and Detroit.

In addition to serving area businesses and travelers, the airport is home to many aviation-related services. It is used by various law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services, and hosts the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 114th Air Traffic Control Flight.

The airport tenants and visitors to the University Park Airport generate significant economic benefits on an annual basis, providing directly 139 jobs and $12 million in payroll. But a recent report estimated the impact of direct spending and secondary visitor-related spending at $68 million.

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Contact:
Vicki Fong (814) 865-9481 (office) vyf1@psu.edu