Davids Joins Ribbon Cutting at Johnson County Executive Airport Taxiway Built with Federal Infrastructure Funding
Davids is the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for bipartisan infrastructure law and bring $22 million to Kansas airports for future renovation projects
OLATHE, KS – Representative Sharice Davids, Vice Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, joined the Johnson County Airport Commission and Olathe Chamber of Commerce to reopen Taxiway Alpha today at the Johnson County Executive Airport. The $4.2 million renovation of the aging taxiway was 100% funded by the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program, which Davids has voted to support.
Additionally, Davids announced last week that Kansas airports will receive over $22 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law. Airports can use these Airport Improvement Program funds for projects like the taxiway reopened today, or to repair other aging airport infrastructure. This is the first round of funding under the five years of federal investment in Kansas airports authorized by this new law. In the Kansas Third, recipients include:
- $296,000 to New Century AirCenter
- $158,000 to Johnson County Executive Airport
Rep. Sharice Davids speaks at the opening of newly-renovated Taxiway Alpha at Johnson County Executive Airport
"Today's ribbon cutting is an excellent example of the types of projects the bipartisan infrastructure law is going to help address. This taxiway was past its expected service life and needed upgrades to remain safe," said Davids. "We came together today not only to celebrate this renovated runway and its impact on jobs and economic growth in our community, but to share excitement for future projects like this funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law's $22 million investment in Kansas airports."
"Completion of a newly rebuilt taxiway at this airport is an uplifting project to celebrate. It has been more than two decades since the runway and taxiway at Executive Airport have had a major renovation," said Chairman Ed Eilert, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. "These projects reaffirm the county's commitment to provide safe airport infrastructure for economic development and future job growth. The County's two airports and the associated businesses and organizations located at New Century and Executive Airport currently have a total economic impact of nearly $1.3B and over 5,000 jobs."
Rep. Sharice Davids joins Johnson County Airport Commission Secretary John Wittenborn at Taxiway Alpha ribbon cutting
In addition to the Airport Improvement Program funds, airports in the Kansas Third District will have the opportunity to compete for $5 billion in grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration Terminal Program, created by the bipartisan infrastructure law to provide grant funding for terminal development and other landside projects.
Davids previously announced the bipartisan infrastructure law is bringing more than $500 million for highways in Kansas and $79 million for water infrastructure across Kansas in fiscal year 2022. As Vice Chair of the relevant committee, she has been "in the thick of the infrastructure bill from the start."