Kansas City International Airport again to receive stimulus dollars

Published 2 October 2009

Kansas City International Airport will receive a $9.3 million stimulus package grant for new and enhanced closed circuit television systems; the airport’s new inline baggage screening system is already completed so it was not eligible for funding

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, Aviation Department has received notification that DHS will award Kansas City International Airport a $9.3 million grant funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for new and enhanced closed circuit television systems. These systems provide enhanced surveillance capabilities throughout the airport. Previously, the department received a $7 million grant funded under the ARRA for rehabilitation of runways 1R/19L and 9/27, taxiways, and aprons. Kansas City Info Zine reports that the airport’s new inline baggage screening system is already completed so it was not eligible for funding.

DHS announced $57.6 million in funding for six airport security projects funded by the ARRA and designed to enhance the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) efforts to strengthen security at airports, while creating jobs across the country. Stimulus projects are 100 percent funded and there is no local match.

The City of Kansas City, Mo., is committed to continuously improving the safety and security of Kansas City International Airport,” Director of Aviation Mark VanLoh said. “These state-of-the-art technologies will bolster security for Kansas City travelers and put Kansas Citians to work.”

In awarding ARRA funds, DHS says it prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS is on track to obligate more than 50 percent by the end of September 2009.