Levin Announces Over $19 Million for Detroit Metro

WASHINGTON — Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded two grants totaling $19,903,353 for the ongoing construction of a runway and taxiway at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

"This funding is crucial for Detroit Metro's future," said Levin. "This new runway means air travelers through Detroit will enjoy more flight options and experience fewer delays. As a frequent flyer to and from Metro, I know that Michiganders and visitors alike will benefit from these improvements."

Detroit Metro will receive over $16 million for partial reimbursement of costs already incurred for construction of runway 4-22. The runway is needed to increase the airport's capacity, improve safety and reduce delays as the airport grows in the future. The new runway will add to Metro's three primary parallel runways and two crosswind runways and is expected to be completed by November 2001.

To enhance safety and accommodate the increased ground traffic resulting from the new runway, DOT also awarded Detroit Metro a $3 million discretionary grant for construction for a taxiway which will allow aircraft to taxi to the terminal without crossing another runway. Taxiway Q will be part of the system of taxiways that will connect runway 4-22 to the midfield terminal and is also expected to be completed by November 2001.

The grant awards combine entitlement funding, which airports receive from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) annually, and discretionary funds which are determined by a competitive selection process among all commercial airports across the country that have applied for funding for specific renovations and improvements. Of these two grants, $15 million is discretionary funding while the remaining $4,903,353 is entitlement funding. Today's FAA award for the construction of runway 4-22 is the 12th federal payment toward the $300 million cost of the construction project.