CONSTRUCTION TAKES OFF TO MEET AIR TRAFFIC GROWTH

Federal aid authorization for airport construction was increased to $1.27 billion--up from $1 billion in 1987. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in July signed a $3.6 billion contract with IBM to replace the air traffic control system. Air traffic is projected to increase nearly 60%, and takeoffs and landings to jump by 27%. There have been recent approvals of two new airports, one at Denver that will be the largest in the world and the other at Austin, Texas. Public transit, however, has experienced decreased interest and support from the federal government, but despite this has experienced more development in the past few years than in the previous century. The Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) says that some of this development has not been cost effective (e.g. Miami's heavy rail system), but some has (e.g. Portland, Oregon's light rail system). The worst news comes from Dallas, where voters defeated a $1 billion bond proposal to begin construction of a 93-mile, $2.9 billion light rail system. Federal spending for all transit systems remains fairly constant at about $2 billion a year. Total spending, including local money, is estimated about the same as for airports, between $3 billion and $4 billion. One of the most compelling arguments for mass transit--rail and bus--is the Cleam Air Act. A table shows construction bond issues (in millions of dollars) for airports and mass transit for the years 1980 to July 1988.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03620506
• Corporate Authors:

  Cahners Publishing Company

  275 Washington Street
  Newton, MA  United States  02158-1630
• Authors:
  • Merwin, D P
• Publication Date: 1988-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 34-37
• Serial:
  • Highways and Heavy Construction
  • Volume: 131
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: Cahners Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 0362-0506

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Air transportation; Airports; Economics; Expenditures; Federal aid; Public transit; Urban growth
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00476848
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1988 12:00AM