Airport projects could move forward with stimulus plan

[metro]

Anyone else find it odd that Will Rogers is asking less than Tulsa, Lawton and other smaller airports?



Air projects could take off sooner with stimulus plan
Oklahoman
BY JENNIFER PALMER
Published: January 22, 2009

Airport projects waiting in the wings could be completed sooner with an injection of federal funding from a massive economic stimulus package.

If the package is approved, the state could receive $30 million to $40 million in federal funds for Oklahoma’s airports — well above the $9 million to $12 million it receives during a typical fiscal year. The additional money would jump-start construction projects, creating jobs, said Vic Bird, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.

Aid program rare
"Something of this magnitude doesn’t come around very often, so we really need to take advantage of it while we can,” Bird said. "We certainly don’t want to leave any money on the table.”

The Federal Aviation Administration last month asked aviation officials to submit project proposals. Oklahoma’s three commercial airports — Will Rogers World Airport, Tulsa International Airport and Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport — sent in lists of eligible projects, as did the Aeronautics Commission on behalf of many of the state’s airports.

Who is eligible?
To be eligible for the funds, the projects’ design and bid phases have to be completed by mid-April.

In Tulsa, the additional federal money would allow the airport to expedite updating the surface road and signs at the airport’s entry — something officials may not have spent money on this year.

"We’re being very cautious with any projects because of the reduced number of travelers,” said Alexis Higgins, an airport spokeswoman.

Runways targeted
Many projects submitted to the FAA are for runway and taxiway pavement — projects that are considered a priority for the FAA and would compete favorably for federal dollars, Bird said.
Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport repaved all but 2,400 feet of runway in 2001, and is asking for $5 million in federal dollars to finish the project.

Without the stimulus package, the airport would have to roll over money from several years to pay for it.

"We just don’t generate that kind of money,” said Barbara McNally, the airport’s manager. "Pavement projects are so expensive.”


Airport projects eligible for federal stimulus funds
The following airports have requested these funds from the federal government but also may receive money from the city or state.
→Will Rogers World Airport…$3.5 million

→Tulsa International Airport…$4 million

→Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport…$5 million

→Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City…$8 million

→Altus — Quartz Mountain…$440,500

→Alva…$5.6 million

→Bartlesville…$3.6 million

→Durant — Eaker Field…$5.7 million

→South Grand Lake (in Ketchum)…$1.7 million

→Muskogee — Davis Field…$4.5 million

→Okemah…$5 million

→Okmulgee…$4.5 million

→Ponca City…$4.7 million

→Shawnee…$3.5 million

→Stillwater…$5.6 million

→Tulsa’s Jones Riverside…$1.7 million

→Yukon’s Clarence Page…$1.3 million

Sources: The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Will Rogers World Airport, Tulsa International Airport

and Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport.

[CuatrodeMayo]

$4 million is pretty much change when talking about airport buildings in major cities. Now for those small-town airports that is a different story. I know for that Ponca City is trying to build a new terminal building (It has been a re-occuring project at OSU's School of Architecture for many years now).

[venture]

There is only so much the funds can be used for, and I'm sure there is a pretty tight time line on when the funds have to be spent. OKC really doesn't have anything major that needs redoing right now. The only thing that may jump out would be a nice air cargo building to allow for the east wing expansion - moving the existing structure away.

[Richard at Remax]

Does anyone know if they they already have a good chunk set aside for the new terminal and thats why they didn't ask for much?

[metro]

There is only so much the funds can be used for, and I'm sure there is a pretty tight time line on when the funds have to be spent. OKC really doesn't have anything major that needs redoing right now. The only thing that may jump out would be a nice air cargo building to allow for the east wing expansion - moving the existing structure away.

That's what I'm saying. The east wing is pretty much ready to go if they wanted, the plans are in place, etc. Why couldn't they submit a request for funding for that, even though I believe the city already had the money set aside. Why not use the fed money and then divert the city money to another much needed project?

[Kerry]

OKC will not be getting this money.

Checkout the link:
WHITE MALES NEED NOT APPLY...
Obama's economic adviser Robert Reich testified this month that the Obama stimulus package should be kept out of the hands of white male construction workers.

Gateway Pundit: Obama Stimulus Plan: White Males Need Not Apply (Video)

If you don't believe the video check out this:
Robert Reich's Blog: The Stimulus: How to Create Jobs Without Them All Going to Skilled Professionals and White Male Construction Workers

[dmoor82]

OMG! come on! support this president and get on!!!!!!!!!!!!Give this guy a chance he cant do any worse than Bush!!!!!!
That's for damn sure!

[metro]

Anyone know more about what specific projects Will Rogers is requesting the money for? Jen at the Airport, can you comment?

[Kerry]

OMG! come on! support this president and get on!!!!!!!!!!!!Give this guy a chance he cant do any worse than Bush!!!!!!
That's for damn sure!

Did you watch the video? I am a white male. Why should I support that policy? Why would you support it?

[bretthexum]

Did you watch the video? I am a white male. Why should I support that policy? Why would you support it?

Complain all you want if it actually gets signed. People in congress say stupid things all the time. Most absurd things like this don't even see the light of day.

[sgray]

LOL We're gonna have to tie a dogchain to Kerry here pretty soon. It's spreading to other threads!

[Kerry]

This is a thread about the infrastructure stimulus and the economic adviser to President Obama says the federal government should make every attempt to ensure that the money doesn't end up in the hands of white men. How am I out of line?

Are you guys so blind that you can't see how wrong this is? Why do these kinds of policies not bother you in the least?

[soonerguru]

Kerry,

I'm sick of your provocative, inflammatory, and misleading posts. We get that you hate Obama. Just say it. You hate him. You hate him because he's a D and you're an R and you, like your patron saint Limbaugh, want him to fail and want other people to hate and resent him to the same degree you do. It ain't gonna happen. He has an 80 percent approval rating right now and most of the American people, including the candidate you supported in the election, are willing to give him a chance.

I couldn't care less what Robert Reich said. He is not setting Obama's economic policy, he's not in the cabinet, and he will not be setting the terms of the stimulus.

You obviously failed to watch the local news this evening in which the ODOT spokesperson said the amount of stimulus money coming to Oklahoma for highway and bridge construction will put 16,000 people to work, NOW.

Now, your moronic post has earned a simple question: Will Obama's team be doing the hiring for this construction? No. The money is going to the state and the state will do the hiring and outsourcing. There are a number of private firms that will directly benefit.

How about you and your mama Mary Fallin shut up on your anti-Obama crusade long enough for our state to get its share of the highway money. Unless you'd rather that go somewhere else? How is that constructive? Do you want our city to be excluded? WTF?

I mean really, get over it. Even your losing candidate is on board right now.

Quit lying to people so you can get attention here. It's old.

[mecarr]

Kerry. Here's a hint: We know how much you hate and despise Obama. You do not have to talk about it in every single post. Give it a rest. You are starting to look like a child and nobody is taking anything you say seriously.

[CuatrodeMayo]

So contractors will be encouraged to hire unskilled minority workers to build our infrastructure instead of hiring the people who actually know how to do it?

S/G: Way out of line. If Kerry wants to make it an anti-Obama issue, then whatever. Regardless of the Obama connection or lack thereof, Reich statement was ignorant and borderline racist.

[soonerguru]

I agree the Reich statement was stupid, but it's also irrelevant. Reich has nothing to do with the hiring for the stimulus package. ODOT is doing the contracting, and they're not hiring dolts. There is so much work coming in the pipeline that every highway consulting firm in the state is going to be doing overtime work.

Reich is not in the cabinet. He is not setting the terms for the stimulus. Oklahoma's leaders are. Why make a mountain out of a mole hill.

[sgray]

So contractors will be encouraged to hire unskilled minority workers to build our infrastructure instead of hiring the people who actually know how to do it?

How in the heck are you tying the work availability to how the contractors decide to handle their staffing??? Either they'll build it right or the state or local government better not sign off/pay for the work. If they do, well, that won't be much change from how it is now, is it? And again like soonerguru said, the projects are not federal projects! They are local and state projects and they are only deciding what projects to fund at the fed level! The locals spend and manage the funds.

Umm, just curious as to if you own a car and if so, have you traveled any of the road repair/refurbish projects around here lately??? Go drive out near i-40 and meridian and tell me that it get's worse than that! Or drive southbound on i-44 under i-40 and try to see where the lanes are! You actually think they are staffing skilled workers now??? Or care about quality for that matter

[Kerry]

Soonerguru - obviously you didn't watch the video. Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, wants to write rules into the stimulus legislation that will "encourage" companies to hire minorities, women, and the unskilled. He also wants to make it impossible for the state to determine how and where the money will be spent. He wants federal formulas that determine where the money will go. In other words - if they have their way (and Charles Rangel does) then it doesn't matter what the ODOT spokesperson says. It won't be up to ODOT. And what are these 16,000 employees going to do next year when the stimulus money runs out? Will we have another stimulus?

BTW - don't count me a John McCain supporter and 'r' or 'd' has nothing to do with it. I have just about given up on the Republican party if they are going to be defined by the likes of John McCain and Colin Powell.

[sgray]

wants to write rules into the stimulus legislation that will "encourage" companies to hire minorities, women, and the unskilled.

Minorities and women have been at the root of most of legislation for both Dems and Repubs for a long time. You see that everywhere now. Even here locally.

I can tell you this: no one will put language in there to encourage hiring unskilled workers. If the contractors decide to hire unskilled workers (as some do now), then that is their gamble.

There are plenty of skilled minorities and women workers. And if all the contractors have to build their bids on this basis, then they have nothing to worry about because they are bidding on an even playing field with other contractors.

[venture]

Alright well this thread is completely derailed now. Mods, can you please delete or move these posts that really are not on topic. For real people...we have a political forum. If you want to get into policy and politics and such too...post there. You do not have to derail every other thread with political crap. We need an ignore feature on this board so we can just block out all posts by certain people.

Now back on topic...as far as using funds for the east wing - I think there are certain restrictions on the federal level on how funds can be used at an airport. Typically they are going to be focused on runway/ramp improvements, tower improvements, etc. Passenger terminals are usually last unless it is for security equipment. Perhaps they could get funding to create an actual passenger pickup waiting area in the terminal. You know...so nice chairs and such by the escalators...instead of people walking around in circles or standing in one place for a long time.

[southernskye]

A We need an ignore feature on this board so we can just block out all posts by certain people.

There is an ignore and it works well.

[CuatrodeMayo]

How in the heck are you tying the work availability to how the contractors decide to handle their staffing??? Either they'll build it right or the state or local government better not sign off/pay for the work. If they do, well, that won't be much change from how it is now, is it? And again like soonerguru said, the projects are not federal projects! They are local and state projects and they are only deciding what projects to fund at the fed level! The locals spend and manage the funds.

Umm, just curious as to if you own a car and if so, have you traveled any of the road repair/refurbish projects around here lately??? Go drive out near i-40 and meridian and tell me that it get's worse than that! Or drive southbound on i-44 under i-40 and try to see where the lanes are! You actually think they are staffing skilled workers now??? Or care about quality for that matter

Hey, Homeboy, you probably should watch the video before you go off on me. I was just repeating the summary of the discussion taking place on the video. And I don't really care for your tone, so why don't you find somebody else to pick a fight with. See?

[venture]

There is an ignore and it works well.

Found it.

[sgray]

Hey, Homeboy, you probably should watch the video before you go off on me. I was just repeating the summary of the discussion taking place on the video. And I don't really care for your tone, so why don't you find somebody else to pick a fight with. See?

Hey Homeslice, I did watch the video and that's why I questioned you. You claimed that soonerguru was out of line and I simply pointed out the facts. If you dont want to answer the questions I presented to you, that is fine, move on to another thread. But do not accuse me of doing something I haven't done. Alrighty then?

[OKCTalker]

Anyone else find the irony in an aviation thread being hijacked?