Philadelphia International Airport awarded $5.1 million State grant

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has been awarded $5.1 million from the State of Pennsylvania as part of a State investment in safety enhancements and improvements at 10 airports across Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett announced on Thursday. The funds allocated to PHL, will be used to upgrade the Airport’s mechanical facilities and Phase 1 of a major airfield taxiway project.

The grants, which are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Bureau of Aviation, were approved by the State Transportation Commission. The commission is composed of 15 members including the Transportation Secretary, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor, and the majority and minority chairs of the State Senate and House Transportation Committees.

The grants are distributed through the Capital Budget/Transportation Assistance Program, which is funded through State capital bond dollars in the General Fund budget. The grants also leverage more than $11 million in local matching funds.

“I want to thank Governor Corbett and the State Transportation Commission for this generous grant, which will fund important infrastructure projects at Philadelphia International Airport,” said Airport CEO Mark Gale. “These funds will enable us to make improvements to an important component of the Airport’s mechanical facilities and operational enhancements to the airfield.”

Added Rina Cutler, Deputy Mayor, Transportation and Utilities: “This is wonderful news. I want to thank Governor Corbett and the State for recognizing the importance of funding for special projects to keep our airports safe and functioning efficiently.”