Published: August 29, 2007 02:07 pm         

Airport gets TxDOT improvement funds

More than half a million dollars was awarded to the Gainesville Municipal Airport at a recent meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission.

In its August meeting Thursday, the commission which oversees transportation systems across Texas including small airports, announced approval of $666,667 for the Gainesville Municipal Airport.

Airport Director Dave Vinton said there are plans for the additional funds.

“We’re going to be installing a detention pond for storm water run-off, and we’ll also build some taxi streets from the runway,” Vinton said in an interview Tuesday.

He said future plans include a hangar development near the airport terminal to attract more businesses, as well as the installation of various security devices.

“We’re plugging away,” he said. “I’m still getting a handle on operations here, and marketing the airport.”

Vinton began work as the Gainesville airport’s director in May.

Mark Cross, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), said in an interview Tuesday the funding is earmarked for planned airport improvements and derives from TxDOT’s Aviation Facilities Grant.

This year, TxDOT expects to provide about $60 million in funding for planning, constructing and maintaining community airports “to improve the state’s general aviation system.”

“This is pretty normal stuff — Every month the transportation commission gives grants to airports across the state,” Cross said, noting about 275 community airports in Texas are eligible for funding from the grant.

Arrivals and departures from community airports account for more than three million flight hours per year and provide aircraft facilities for agricultural, medical, business and commuter use, a press release from TxDOT said.

“We’re glad to support general aviation across the state,” Cross said. It’s often a forgotten — but very much needed — mode of transporation.”