... a key question is: How will that extra billion targeted for airports in the Washington stimulus bill impact the system? If there’s an event at which one can expect to find some answers, this conference is it.
Officially, it is the Airport Planning, Design & Construction Symposium, and it brings together airports, consultants, FAA, TSA, designers, architects, planners, etc. The American Association of Airport Executives and the Airport Consultants Council jointly host the event.
While Congress continues to mull over a long-term FAA and aviation system funding bill, which is expected to bring $3 billion-plus annually into the Airport Improvement Program (should a bill actually ever be passed), the stimulus bill is injecting some immediate money into the system. It’s for projects that stand at-the-ready. Like everything else with this bill, the devil will be in the details.
Heading into the conference, there are a lot of questions. Like, how will the dropping prices in commodities (concrete, steel, copper) affect bids for airport projects? There are indications in the marketplace that the bids are coming in lower than expected. That would seem to indicate that the $1 billion (and future AIP monies) could stretch further than anticipated.
On Friday, we’ll run a follow-up blog to let the audience know how the discussion went on this hot topic, and what the potential impact will be. See you then.
Thanks for reading. jfi