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AVIATION BILL CLEARS HOUSESmall Communities and Rural Areas
Targeted for Assistance
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Federal assistance to enhance air service
to rural areas will dramatically increase under an airport improvement
bill approved late yesterday by the U.S. House of Representatives,
announced U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV).
"This bill will improve air service to rural areas of the country,
both in terms of increasing that service and combating high airfares,"
Rahall said. "Airports in rural areas have the ability to make greater
contributions to local economic development activities and this bill will
help them achieve their true potential through federal policy changes."
The bill would increase federal airport spending by unleashing
surpluses in the Airport Trust Fund, making more money available for
airport construction projects such as runways and terminals. The result
would be a three-fold increase in the amount of federal funds available to
many airports. In southern West Virginia, this means $1.5 million per year
for Huntington Tri-State, and $200,000 per year for Raleigh County
Memorial and Mercer County airports each as well as for general aviation
airports in Logan and Mingo Counties.
In an effort to halt deteriorating air service to small communities,
the bill contains a number of other measures including:
A Rahall initiative to provide $40 million in assistance to small
airports to implement measures aimed at improving the cost and
availability of air service to consumers, including through marketing and
promotion, better use of airport facilities, and air service subsidies.
A Rahall sponsored provision to make projects facilitating the
transfer of cargo and passengers between air and ground transportation
modes eligible for funding. Small airports could use the provision to
build facilities to attract companies such as UPS and FedX, or other
businesses which depend on both ground and air transportation links.
Rahall views the provision as a way to expand economic development and
create jobs.
The extension of the Essential Air Service program, currently used to
subsidize Colgan Air flights into Beckley and Princeton/Bluefield, and a
new federal loan guarantee program to help small airlines buy regional
jets if they agree to use them to fly to small underserved airports.
The legislation, known as the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for
the 21st Century, or AIR 21, now goes to the Senate for consideration. It
follows on the heels of last year’s successful effort to reduce surpluses
in the Highway Trust Fund. |
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