Airport Check-in: Stimulus helps runways; Minn. eyes signs

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Airport needs outpace stimulus funds

The roughly $1 billion in federal stimulus infrastructure money for airports is all "out the door," with most of it going to work on runways, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told USA TODAY in a meeting last week.

But he acknowledged that "there are a lot more needs in aviation" than the stimulus provided money for, and spending for airports hasn't kept up with needs. "We're making up for lost time," he says.

Under his watch, the Federal Aviation Administration's top priority will be the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), a satellite-based air traffic management system that will replace the current radar and ground-based system.

The FAA's ongoing experiment to privatize several airports may be put on the back burner. "There are other more urgent issues. It's not even on my radar."

Chicago Midway, the only large airport to apply for privatization, recently halted its plans indefinitely after private investors couldn't raise sufficient funds for a 99-year lease.

•Minneapolis International is planning to install new roadway signs that will better direct drivers to its two terminals — Lindbergh and Humphrey. The new signs will refer to the facilities as "Terminal 1" and "Terminal 2," while listing the names of airlines to help travelers find their arrival/departure location. The project will cost $2.2. million and will be completed by early next year.

The two terminals — Lindbergh is much larger — are miles apart and located off two separate highways. As they approach the airport, drivers need to quickly decide on the proper exit for their terminal. If they choose incorrectly, they have to exit the airport and get back on the highway to get to the correct terminal. About 25,000 passengers arrive at the wrong terminal every year, the airport says.

Once the signage project is completed, Minneapolis-St. Paul will be the nation's first airport to include airline names on highway signs, airport spokesman Patrick Hogan says. Currently, only airports with their own roadways can feature such signs. "We've wanted to do this for years. But we had no permission from highway officials (until now)."