Schumer touts transit funds
Millions set aside for airports, bus lines to aid upstate “connectivity”
A new round of federal aid to assist airports and transit agencies hard hit by the coronavirus was announced Monday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. In the Capital Region, the Capital District Transportation Authority will receive $51,653,331, while the Albany International Airport will receive $13,395,263.
Officials at CDTA welcomed the news.
“It’s very encouraging and welcome news,” said CDTA spokeswoman Jaime Watson. “There will still be a need for stopgap funding over the next two to three years as we continue to deal with the issues surrounding COVID.
“We thank the Senate majority leader for keeping transit and the people of the Capital Region in his vision,” she added.
The funds are part of more than $480 million in assistance for upstate transit agencies and airports from the recently signed American Rescue Plan that
Schumer announced Monday. Columbia County Airport, Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport in Warren County, Schenectady County Airport and Saratoga County Airport are receiving $59,000 each, while Fulton County Airport will receive $32,000.
Among transit agencies, Kingston will receive $1,310,895 in support, while Saratoga Springs will receive $515,072 and Glens Falls will receive $407,614.
“Air travel and public transportation are among the most severely impacted industries amid the pandemic, and both are vital to the connectivity and
success of the upstate economy,” Schumer said. “Help is on the way that will put upstate New York’s transportation on the road to recovery.”
Airports have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advising the public against any unnecessary travel. Now, with three vaccines approved and being distributed, travel is starting to rebound.
Earlier Monday, the Albany County Airport Authority was approving new leases and continuing its efforts to protect passengers and staff from COVID -19.
The airport authority board approved a contract to install touchless elevator controls that sense when a person’s finger is near the button. The move is one of a number of initiatives, including a smartphone app developed in partnership with General Electric Co., that tells passengers how recently frequently touched surfaces were sanitized.
On Tuesday, the authority will vaccinate up to 100 employees who haven’t already received COVID -19 vaccines. Employees already undergo weekly tests for COVID -19.
Also at its Monday morning board meeting, the authority extended the lease of AFCO Avports Management LLC to provide management services for one year.
“This is not the time to be changing management companies,” said airport spokesman Doug Myers. “They’ve been doing an outstanding job for us navigating COVID.”
And the board approved a three-year lease for Commutair, which has its maintenance base at Albany International Airport, to expand into the former airport authority administration building next to the main terminal. Administrative offices have been relocated to the third floor of the main terminal.
Commutair will pay $46,000 a year to rent the space, and the authority will make up to $20,000 in improvements.
The carrier operates a fleet of Embraer 145 regional jets as a United Express carrier. It flies from Albany to Newark and Washington Dulles, both hubs for United Airlines. Many of its aircraft were grounded because of the pandemic.