Assemblyman Tim Gordon (I-Bethlehem) recently announced two grants totaling nearly a half million dollars for local projects at Bethlehem’s South Albany Airport. The funds are part of the $43 million sanctioned for transportation infrastructure improvements in aviation, rail and port capital projects across the state.
The grants from the voter-approved $2.9 billion Renew and Rebuild New York Transportation Act include $270,000 for a 10-bay hangar and $150,000 for security fencing at South Albany Airport.
`As an auxiliary emergency landing site, the improvements at South Albany contribute to the state’s goal of modernizing and maintaining secure, reliable travel,` Gordon said. `Earlier this year, I met with Wayne Wegman and Sean Bray from the New York Aviation Management Association to discuss their plans for improvements at the airport and potential funding options. Today I’m pleased to announce that South Albany Airport in getting much needed funding.`
South Albany’s $270,000 grant will help the privately owned airfield build a third hangar to house several planes now parked on the grass. The 10-bay hangar and associated taxi lanes will increase safety and revenue for the airfield.
The airport will use its $150,000 grant to fund the second phase of the airport’s security fencing project, which began last year. The money will be used to build access control gates and complete installation of the security fence on the airport’s perimeter, reducing trespassing and wildlife entry.“