NEWBURGH, NY — More than $24 million in federal funds will be allocated to improve the runway at Stewart International Airport, officials said Wednesday.
The $24,126,158 will allow Stewart to repair cracks in the runway pavement. This is important to prevent damage and maintain safety, according to a statement from the office of Senator Charles Schumer (Democrat, New York).
The grant is intended for a rehabilitation project that will restore two of the airport’s runways to good condition and install new environmentally friendly LED lights in the runway pavement to ensure safe flight operations at the airport, the announcement said.
The Airport Improvement Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration awards grants to public entities – and in some cases to private owners and companies – for the planning and development of public-use airports, the press release said.
“This more than $24 million federal grant will literally pave the way for improved safety at Stewart International Airport and help take efforts to repair cracks in thousands of feet of runway pavement to new heights,” Schumer said in a news release. This is especially timely as the winter months approach, Schumer said.
“Air safety is a top priority for millions of Americans, which is why I fought hard earlier this year to increase funding for the Airport Improvement Program,” Schumer said. “Ensuring Hudson Valley airports like Stewart have the resources they need to maintain the highest safety standards is critical to ensuring safe travel for residents and visitors and to attracting business.”
Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said Stewart is a heavily used airport.
“Stewart International Airport serves tens of thousands of passengers each year and it is critical that its runways remain stable and resilient during the winter months,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “This massive $24 million in federal funding will enable critical repairs to Stewart International Airport’s runway so passengers entering and exiting the Hudson Valley can take off and land safely.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan of Gardiner said federal funding brings private investment.
“Earlier this summer, I brought Department of Transportation leadership to Stewart to show them how federal infrastructure funding will open the floodgates for private investment in the airport and boost the economy of the entire region,” Ryan said in the release. “This historic funding is another giant step forward.”
