Kelly seeks $2 million for airport improvements
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, requested $2 million from the House Committee on Appropriations on Friday for improvements to the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.
In a request letter to the committee, Kelly says the funding for the airport in Penn Township would be used to extend Runway 8, which is not long enough for aircraft to land or take off safely when covered in water, snow or ice.
At 4,800 feet, the runway is also not long enough to operate under hot or humid conditions, according to the request.
Butler County Commissioner Kim Geyer, who is on the airport authority board, said the airport initially requested $5 million through Kelly because the cost to extend the runway is estimated at more than $20 million.
However, she said $2 million in funding would be put toward conducting research to have the runway extended properly and cost-effectively.
“The airport authority board is evaluating different airport runway extension scenarios,” Geyer said. “The airport authority board is attempting to get it extended to 5,500 feet, and we just recently had a discussion about reducing that to 5,200, so we're looking at various alternatives, so it's not so costly.”
Funding for community projects has not yet been determined, according to an email from Kelly's office.
The funding has been requested for the 2022 fiscal year, so the project would not begin for some time, pending approval, Geyer said.
“It's just difficult to get funding for airports,” Geyer said. “We're extremely appreciative of Congressman Kelly's earmark, and we'll put that money to good use and be good stewards of those resources.”
