St. Mary's Co. $5.5 Million in Federal CoronaVirus Relief Funding Goes to St. Mary’s Co. Regional Airport for Runway Extension/Reconstruction

[Editor]

This just in...

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen announced an award of $5,560,023 in federal funds to St. Mary’s County Regional Airport in Leonardtown, Md. for the extension and reconstruction of the airport runway. The funding is awarded through the Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

"I’m pleased the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport will receive this important funding,” said Congressman Hoyer. “This critical funding will ensure our local infrastructure can continue to serve Southern Marylanders, and enhance economic development. I will continue to work with my colleagues to secure funding to improve our infrastructure systems."

"Local airports provide a critical connection between communities and economies throughout our state and region,” said Senator Cardin. “Improving our airport infrastructure is critical for our recovery through the COVID-19 economic crisis. This investment will provide St. Mary’s County Regional Airport with the federal resources they need to continue serving our communities, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth throughout the region."

"The St. Mary’s County Regional Airport is a hub for local jobs and economic opportunity. This investment will help modernize key infrastructure so our regional airports continue to serve Maryland’s communities effectively and efficiently,” said Senator Van Hollen. “We will keep fighting for federal funds to support and grow our regional economies."

These funds are made available through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grant and the authorized CARES Act funds waive local cost share requirements for Fiscal Year 2020. Lawmakers previously announced over $107 million in COVID-19 economic relief for Maryland airports. Additional information on how funding is distributed nationwide may be found through the FAA.

 

[stgislander]

We need to spend $5,560,023 in federal COVID-19 funds to expand/extend the runway at the airport?!! Will that give county residents a commuter air service?

I smell pork cooking.

 

[winterspring]

Pork sure

We need to spend $5,560,023 in federal COVID-19 funds to expand/extend the runway at the airport?!! Will that give county residents a commuter air service?

I smell pork cooking.

Pork sure tastes good
to bad its all put on the CC for the kids to pay off

 

[stgislander]

Pork sure

Pork sure tastes good
to bad its all put on the CC for the kids to pay off

Heaven forbid the Covid funds be used to upgrade our Internet infastrusture so all these kids can do their schooling online.

 

[Louise]

hahaha, speaking of... Check out this wack-ass PR the commissioners put out today. If anyone can translate this into English, please edify me.

Commissioners Address Broadband Concerns

LEONARDTOWN, MD – The last several months have been a busy time for many while students and educators prepared to start the school year in a virtual setting. Two grants from the State of Maryland – the CARES Middle Mile Grant and the Broadband for Underserved Students (BUS) Grant have been approved to help close technology gaps in the county and to provide connectivity to underserved areas of the county.

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County encourage a competitive market. Cable television systems permanently occupy and use valuable Public Rights-of-Way. The use of these local Rights-of-Way by the cable television providers are detailed in a Cable Franchise Agreement(s), in which the Federal Communications Commission allows Local Franchise Authorities (LFAs) to negotiate for cable television services. The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County encourage any Cable Television Provider to establish a Cable Franchise Agreement.

On March 14, 2002, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Declaratory Ruling (https://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/2002/nrcb0201.html ) “..adopted another major rulemaking, part of a series of actions, designed to promote widespread deployment of broadband services..” Additionally, “...the FCC concluded that cable modem service is properly classified as an interstate information service and is therefore subject to FCC jurisdiction” (emphasis added). The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County have no authority to regulate broadband services.

Recognizing the broadband needs of our community, the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County have funded significant investments in the existing infrastructure. These actions have leveraged Federal, State, Board of Education, and Commercial partnerships to expand services throughout the county. While the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County have limited authority to regulate broadband services offered in the county, their proactive use of the cable franchise agreements to expand coverage within the county has resulted in the current CARES Middle Mile and BUS Grant projects.

For more information, visit www.stmarysmd.com/broadband or https://www.stmarysmd.com/it/cable/.

------------

I think it means:

Atlantic Broadband owns the franchise and they refuse to do anything about it. Since this is controlled by the FCC, we are powerless to do anything.

???

Well, if it is cable modems they control, how about some fiber or 5G? Frankly, I think the county should just assume the franchise and make it a publicly owned service. Also, what about that global web of internet satellites Elon Musk has been launching lately?

God bless The USA, and thank you for this forum.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

So does Stenny use the St Mary's airport?

Or who does that is a friend of his?

 

[stgislander]

I read in my hometown paper this morning that their airport got a couple $Mil from the Fed for expansion/upgrade work. At least they didn't come right out and say it was from Covid-19 funds.

 

[Sneakers]

So does Stenny use the St Mary's airport?

Or who does that is a friend of his?

I would think a primary user of the airport is executive travel to the base. They've gotten pretty tight about having commercial/private planes land at he base itself, and travel to/from DC or Dulles to Pax is tedious. I know when I was employed by a local aerospace firm, we used St Mary's airport a lot, but were restricted to small prop jobs or very small (5 passenger) jets. There was a desire even years back for the ability to land a larger jet.

 

[GURPS]

..... but were restricted to small prop jobs or very small (5 passenger) jets.

2014 there was an upgraded DC-3 in and out of there weekly .. it was always fun to watch it fly out

 

[spr1975wshs]

2014 there was an upgraded DC-3 in and out of there weekly .. it was always fun to watch it fly out

It was flying in and out of Pax River last year.

 

[stgislander]

So what everyone seems to be saying is that this runway ext/exp is needed for larger jets needed by executives of the various contractors.

 

[Sneakers]

So what everyone seems to be saying is that this runway ext/exp is needed for larger jets needed by executives of the various contractors.

That's one argument, but I'm sure it got justified with safety/rescue/evac/etc... as well.

 

[stgislander]

That's one argument, but I'm sure it got justified with safety/rescue/evac/etc... as well.

Well they certainly don't need it for their drone center of excellence or whatever that operation is called.

 

[BernieP]

So what everyone seems to be saying is that this runway ext/exp is needed for larger jets needed by executives of the various contractors.

Ok, for as long as I have worked in and outside government, I have never know any of the local companies using a private plane.
Maybe if the CEO of Boeing or Lockheed were to come into town. But I bet in that case they would get clearance to land at Pax River to meet with the CO of NAVAIR.

I have lived close enough to that airport for 15 years and don't think I've seen anything larger than a twin engineer Piper Navajo.
There was some larger twin engine prop aircraft there, but it was not commercial.

First, while it would be really "nice" to not have to drive and park to go to IDA, DCA or BWI, they may not get clearance to do that.
Between the ATCA strike in the 80's and 9/11, the "commuter" flights have been nearly eliminated.

As for use by government and contract support, the travel rules keep getting stricter and stricter. Pretty soon they will put you in a box and ship you to your destination. The box will also serve as your hotel room.
Which might be preferable to the "DTS special". Here at PAX, the DTS special is Motel 6

 

[Sneakers]

Ok, for as long as I have worked in and outside government, I have never know any of the local companies using a private plane.
Maybe if the CEO of Boeing or Lockheed were to come into town. But I bet in that case they would get clearance to land at Pax River to meet with the CO of NAVAIR.

Our company did on a regular basis, managers, executives, engineers, all traveling back and forth from NY to Pax among other places, on company owned planes. We had 2-3 flights a week, and it was much easier to land off-site and carpool onto base rather than fly in, especially after 9-11. We left a van at the airstrip just for the commuters.