Funding for Air Travel Improvements
Washington Report -- Fall 2000
With the strong leadership
and support of Tom Lantos, the Congress has adopted new legislation ensuring
some $40 billion over the next three years for our nation's airports and the air
traffic control system. This represents a 25 percent increase in aviation
spending.
The bulk of the money will come from the Airport and Airway
Trust Fund, which is funded by a modest fee on airline tickets and which has
been in place for some time. In the past, the full amount in the Trust Fund was
not spent for air travel improvements as originally envisioned. The unspent
balance was used to offset other government spending. The new legislation that
was adopted by Congress and signed by the President insures that the entire
Trust Fund will be spent to fund needed aviation programs.
The
legislation should result in increased spending at our nation's airports over
the next three years for improvements in airline safety and efficiency. For Bay
Area residents, this will provide needed improvements at the San Francisco
International Airport.
The additional funds should also help speed up
noise reduction efforts for communities impacted by aircraft noise at the San
Francisco Airport. In the next few years, the Airport Authority will spend some
$120 million on a sound-insulation program for families living in noise impacted
areas.