BALTIMORE – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that St. Mary’s County, Md., has been awarded a $1,326,093 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund ongoing efforts to extend Runway 11/29 at the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport (2W6). St. Mary’s Airport is located approximately four miles northeast of Leonardtown. The public airport helps meet local aviation needs and serves as a base of operation for the Maryland State Police Aviation Division and MedSTAR (Medical Shock Trauma Acute Resuscitation).
“This federal investment will help ensure that St. Mary’s regional airport continues to serve customers as safely, reliably and efficiently as possible.” said Senator Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Our regional airports are hard-working economic engines for our local communities and this federal investment is about putting more people to work in jobs supported by the aviation industry. I will continue to support smart investments in public infrastructure that help Maryland families and businesses continue to move onward and upward.”
“Our regional airports play a key role in maintaining Maryland’s robust economy,” said Senator Mikulski, Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which funds DOT. “These funds in the federal checkbook for runway expansion will help the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport operate safely and efficiently while keeping Marylanders on the go.”
Runway 11/29 is St. Mary’s Regional Airport’s only runway. This grant will fund three stages of the 1,200 runway extension process. The federal funds will allow for the completion of utilities relocation and wetland mitigation (Stage 14), runway design (Stage 15) and designs to relocate the existing parallel taxiway for the runway extension (Stage 16).
St. Mary’s Regional Airport by the Numbers
- Business Revenue- $49,462,000
- Total Employment- 346 jobs
- Personal Income- $16,959,000
- Local and State Taxes- $1,798,000
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