Davids Announces $1.8 Million Investment in Airport Safety for New Century AirCenter in Olathe
Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to improve air safety at Johnson County’s New Century AirCenter in Olathe, KS. The $2 million award will be used to reconstruct 7,330 feet of existing runway and 16 existing points of signage — all of which are currently at the end of their useful lives. Davids, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure law, which made this critical investment in air safety possible.
“I’m thrilled to see this investment from the bipartisan infrastructure law coming to the Third District,” said Davids. “By improving New Century AirCenter, we’re not only boosting economic growth and supporting good-paying jobs — we’re also strengthening Kansas’ role as a leader in shipping and logistics, which improves domestic supply chains and lowers costs for Kansas families and businesses”
“We’re grateful for the federal support for the pavement seal coat project at New Century AirCenter,” said Bryan Johnson, Executive Director, Johnson County Airport Commission. “This investment will help extend the life of our runways and taxiways, enhance safety, and support ongoing operations at a key transportation hub in our region. We appreciate Representative Davids’ continued advocacy for infrastructure improvements that strengthen our local economy and aviation capabilities.”
With more than 60,000 operations each year, roughly 120 aircraft, and a 7,339-foot main runway — the second longest in the region — New Century AirCenter ranks among the busiest towered airports in Kansas.
Davids has long supported investments in improving local infrastructure and prioritizing aviation safety. Last month, she visited the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe to discuss the urgent need for investments in aviation safety amidst the Trump Administration’s firings of air safety workers. She also pressed former FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, who served under former President Biden, on the slow pace of modernizing critical landing systems in Kansas.
The bipartisan infrastructure law, which is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings, has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In all, more than $3.2 billion in federal bipartisan infrastructure law funding has been announced for Kansas, with more than 311 specific projects identified — from lead pipe replacement in Olathe to safety initiatives in KCK to long-overdue upgrades to K-68 in Miami County.