Airport up for $7.8 mil in 2006 funding

The U.S. House of Representatives last night approved a provision that secures $5 million for the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport for fiscal year 2006, and legislators expect a bill guaranteeing another $2.8 million to pass by Thanksgiving.

The provision, approved by the Senate Oct. 21, allows the airport to continue receiving funding from the Federal Aviation Administration for the construction of its $146 million midfield terminal project.

Small airports that recently became small hub primary airports – such as Springfield-Branson Regional – no longer can receive FAA funding, but the provision waives the restriction for the next three fiscal years. The Secretary of Transportation will determine additional funding on a case-by-case basis.

The provision is tied to the 2006 Transportation-Treasury-Housing and Urban Development spending bill, which includes an additional $2.8 million in federal funding for the airport.

The final conference agreement on the bill was approved last night and is expected to pass the House and Senate next week.

The airport has received about $7 million in federal funds for the project, set for completion in 2009. The terminal will alleviate the heavy passenger loads and an increasing demand for commercial travel felt by the airport in recent years.