Financing
Both publicly and privately owned airports can receive aid for improvements. Annual general aviation airport capital aid funding comes from two sources, the FAA and the New Jersey Airport Safety Fund, a line item within the Transportation Trust Fund. Statewide, FAA-apportioned GA funding for infrastructure is currently about $5 million annually. State funding for general aviation airport infrastructure has been averaging about $7 million per year.
In general, the state’s investment priorities are safety, runway/taxiway improvements, airport preservation, airport planning and aviation promotion. Discretionary funding also is available from the federal government on a competitive basis. These funds can total millions of dollars and are used for the same type of expenditure as the FAA-apportioned funds. In 2003, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Transportation Commission estimated that, over the next ten years, the total federal and state investments needed to preserve and rehabilitate New Jersey's system of GA airports would approach $340 million. This far outstrips current revenue streams.
In the last few years, airports have faced additional costs to meet new security requirements as a result of 9/11. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has required tighter controls and background checks for flight training schools and charter operations. It has issued “Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports.” As a cornerstone to the guidelines, the TSA recommends use of the AOPA’s Airport Watch program and provides additional security recommendations for general aviation airport operators.
Infrastructure / Access Issues
Many of the issues discussed above are beyond the jurisdiction of the NJTPA in its role as a transportation planning agency primarily concerned with roads, bridges and railroads. However, in interviews conducted for this report (the findings of which are highlighted in the next section) the NJTPA found that several airports in the region are affected by the condition of transportation infrastructure, particularly the road network, serving their facilities. Like many businesses in the state, they face access problems due to traffic congestion in peak periods as well as the need to upgrade outmoded infrastructure (narrow bridges, lack of turn lanes, etc.). However, a particular issue affecting airports was found to involve "wayfinding" -- the lack of adequate signage to direct users to their facilities.
Recommendations
While this report is not meant to supplant federal or state regulations or policy concerning general aviation airport operations or on-airport activities, it recommends that the NJTPA, working with NJDOT Bureau of Aeronautics, county and municipal planners, and airport owners/operators consider the following:
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本文链接地址：OVERVIEW OF THE REGION 'S General Aviation Airports Final Report JUNE 2008(7)
