Rowan gets $2 million for airport expansion

Tuesday, August 05, 2008 3:00 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend | By Mark Wineka

mwineka@salisburypost.com

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., brought home some bacon Monday in the form of a $2 million federal appropriation for the Rowan County Airport.

Visiting the airport, Dole confirmed what her office had informally told county officials two weeks ago — that the Rowan earmark is part of the transportation appropriations bill and pretty much a done deal.

"We're almost there," Dole said as she met with the Rowan County Board of Commissioners in the flight training room at the airport. "... I hope you're ready to use it."

In mid July, the fiscal year 2009 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill won committee approval. It contained $26.2 million that Dole has lobbied for in N.C. initiatives, including the Rowan County Airport's $2 million.

Other N.C. projects included the following:

- Charlotte Rapid Transit Extension Northeast Corridor, $18 million.

- North Carolina Statewide Ferry System, $2 million.

- Greensboro Multimodal Facility, $1 million.

- The widening of Interstate 85 in Concord, $1 million.

- Improvements to U.S. Highway 17 in Onslow County, $1 million.

- Goldsboro Union Depot (bus and bus facilities), $500,000.

- Statesville Avenue Corridor Housing Revitalization in Charlotte, $400,000.

- Revitalization of downtown Rocky Mount, $300,000.

After Senate approval, the appropriations bill has to be reconciled in conference with the House of Representatives-passed version of the bill. A final bill requires House and Senate approval before going to the president for his signature.

Dole also announced in July that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded an additional $2.8 million to public transportation systems in Greensboro and High Point.

Rowan County Commissioner Jim Sides thanked Dole for her work on the county's behalf and said the appropriation will go a long way in accomplishing some immediate goals at the airport.

The county has been working on a $20 million master plan for the airport that would include land acquisition, new hangars and a runway extension, among other improvements.

"We want to have the best little airport in the region," Sides said.

Dole will be spending most of the next five weeks in North Carolina, dividing her time between senatorial duties and campaign stops connected with her November re-election bid.

She is challenged in the November election by Democrat Kay Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro.

Dole was accompanied Monday by Chief of Staff Brian Nick and State Director Margaret Kluttz, former mayor of Salisbury.

Sides said Dole's good news comes on the heels of the county's learning it cannot count on roughly $500,000 from the N.C. Department of Transportation's Aviation Division for the airport.

Commissioner Jon Barber said the federal appropriation couldn't be coming at a better time. He described the airport as the county's most important tool for future economic development.

Around the conference table, Commissioners Tina Hall, Chad Mitchell and Arnold Chamberlain also expressed appreciation to Dole, who shared a few stories and gave them an update on husband Bob Dole, the former U.S. senator from Kansas and the 1996 Republican nominee for president.

With all the chitchat done, Chamberlain turned to Dole and jokingly said, "OK, now, give us the check."

"It's in the mail," Nick answered back.

Barber reiterated the county's concern about the the lack of funding to replace the Interstate 85 bridges over the Yadkin River. Dole noted the age and condition of the spans and said "no question, it has to be a priority."

Nick said someone on the Dole staff works virtually every day on something related to the I-85 bridge.

Dole lamented North Carolina's continued status as a "donor state" when it comes to federal transportation funding, though it will be improving from 90.5 cents on the dollar to 92 cents, she said.

A donor state means that for every $1 North Carolina sends to the federal highway trust fund, it receives 92 cents in return.

Dole said she will be pushing a $50 billion bond for highway infrastructure needs next year.

The senator said Bob Dole "is doing great," and she described how he tries to meet regularly on Saturdays with veterans flown in especially to see the World War II memorial in Washington.

Dole will be visiting the Statesville airport this morning and downtown Mocksville at lunchtime today.