NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) more than $2.3 million in federal funds for upgrades at Newark Liberty International and Teterboro Airports.

    “We need to make New Jersey’s airports as safe, modern and reliable as possible so travelers get to their destinations safely—and on time,” Sen. Lautenberg said.  “These funds will help improve and modernize Newark Liberty and Teterboro so they can meet future travel and public safety demands.”

    Sen. Menendez said, “The flying public has a high level of frustration and concern about our air traffic system, which makes these airport modernizations particularly timely.  The improvements at Newark and Teterboro airports will help pave the way toward safe and more efficient travel for New Jersey families.”

    In total, PANYNJ will receive three separate grants totaling $2,349,405:

        •    Newark Liberty International Airport will receive $1,996,011 to rehabilitate the pavement on one of its three runways (Runway 11/29); and

        •    Teterboro Airport will receive one grant of $258,394 to rehabilitate the pavement on Taxiway A.  Another grant of $95,000 will be used to conduct a Safety Management System (SMS) study, which helps airports detect and correct safety problems to prevent aircraft accidents or incidents.

    Sen. Lautenberg is a leader on aviation safety in Congress.  In April, he introduced a bill that would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop and coordinate a national strategic runway safety plan.  It would also authorize federal spending on technology and infrastructure improvements, such as modern surface detection systems and lower-cost tools like runway status lights.  The bill, the Runway Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (S. 2941), reinforces a 2005 law authored by Lautenberg that mandates runway end buffer zone protections at the nation’s major airports by 2015.

    Earlier this year, Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez announced $400 million in federal funding for new baggage screening systems at the major New Jersey/New York area airports, including Newark Liberty.  Since May, the New Jersey Senators have announced more than $17 million for upgrades and repairs at airports across the state.

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