Watertown airport awarded $3,904,500

Watertown International Airport, Dexter, will receive nearly $4 million in federal funding for its runway extension.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., announced the $3,904,500 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday afternoon.

"Safe and dependable airport service is critical to upstate New York's future, so we need to guarantee that residents remain connected to keep the economic engine running," he said in a press release.

He said that extending the runway at Watertown International would help attract more commercial airlines to the airport, bringing jobs and greater travel options to residents.

Jefferson County officials have sought a 2,000-foot extension that would enable Runway 10-28 to accommodate planes carrying up to 86 passengers in any weather.

"We are still very confident that if we get the right aircraft in here with the right routes, we can draw from the Canadian market, the local business market and the Fort Drum nondeployment flights," said Legislator Barry M. Ormsby, R-Belleville, who is the chairman of the board's airport committee.

The extension could allow the airport to expand destinations and appeal to a large number of Fort Drum soldiers who fly out of Syracuse. A commercial air study in 2007 found that about 13,000 flights out of other airports carry 10th Mountain Division soldiers.

The county wants 10,000 enplanements, or departing passengers, to receive more money from the FAA. It currently has about 2,100 per year. At 10,000 enplanements, the FAA would increase annual funding from $150,000 to about $1 million.

County Administrator Robert F. Hagemann III said the grant money will cover the construction of the first 1,000 feet of the extension.

"This energizes us more to complete our mission to secure the funding for the additional 2,000-foot extension," he said. "The project could finish up as soon as the following construction season."

Last year, the county received a $259,000 grant from the FAA to complete the design phase for the full extension. The design and environmental review were done to prepare for the 2,000-foot extension.

With the FAA grants, the federal government covers 95 percent of the cost, the state will front 2.5 percent and the county will pay for 2.5 percent.

County officials had hoped to get all 2,000 feet done at once, which could save money overall.

Early estimates had the second 1,000 feet costing about $2 million less than the first 1,000 feet if they were done at the same time.

"Now it's clear that we will be piecemealing it in terms of two years for the project," Mr. Hagemann said. "But we are going to get there."

He said both Sen. Schumer and Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., as well as Rep. William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, are being helpful in the request.

The county recently opened bids on the first 1,000 feet of the project, which was expected to be $4.8 million.

Rifenburg Construction Inc., Troy, was the low bidder of about a half-dozen, Mr. Hagemann said. The company came in with a bid of $4.7 million.

He said construction could begin as soon as mid- to late summer. The county will continue to request the money for the final 1,000 feet.

Max Young, a spokesman for Sen. Schumer, said, "We're continuing to work with the FAA to get the remainder of the money and we're optimistic."