Contact: Ernest Blazar 202-224-7627 Shana Stribling 224-0309
Thursday, May 16, 2002

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Kit Bond today announced that the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is sending $17.6 million to Missouri for the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta made an official announcement at Lambert this afternoon, concluding the week-long recognition of National Transportation Week.

“This money means safer and more efficient travel to and through St. Louis,” said Bond who has secured significant funds for Lambert as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It is a huge investment in a better economic future for the entire St. Louis area.”

In the fiscal year 2002 Transportation Appropriations bill, Bond secured federal funding for Lambert Airport. $9.9 million will be used for noise mitigation, including the replacement of Berkeley High School which was affected by aircraft noise. An additional $7.7 million will be used to construct a new parallel runway.

The improvements to Lambert will enhance the St. Louis airport’s capacity and reduce delays while accommodating future traffic increases. Lambert-St. Louis is currently the nation’s 13th busiest airport. In 2000, the number of major airline flights through Lambert increased to 346,298 from 306,276, a growth rate that exceeds the national average. During the same year, the number of passengers that use Lambert Field has also increased from 30.2 to 30.6 million.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and senior Senator from Missouri, Bond has secured millions of dollars for the St. Louis Lambert airport. The funds have gone for equipment, air traffic control towers, cable loop re-location, TRACON and runway expansion to name a few.