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August 4, 2011

FAA funding delay halts jetport work

By The Mainebiz News Staff

Congressional delay in reauthorizing funds for the Federal Aviation Administration is halting airport projects in Portland.

Lawmakers left Washington earlier this week for summer recess without passing legislation to reinstate certain FAA funding, deadlocking over subsidies for rural airports and union organizing, according to the Boston Globe. At least $8 million of aviation-related projects under way in New England have been halted, including work at the Portland International Jetport. Currently three projects at the jetport are listed on the FAA's list of stop-work orders: a $9,000 electrical project by Moulison North Corp. of Biddeford; a $163,000 elevator project by Pine Tree Elevator in Portland; and $935,000 in seismic upgrades done by Atlantic Defense Contractor of Old Town. According to the Globe, air traffic controllers at PWM have been forced to run up and down four flights of stairs in the control tower because the elevator renovation work was stopped midway. The projects are not related to the jetport's $75 million terminal expansion.

Across the country, an estimated 70,000-90,000 construction workers are out of work, and FAA workers have been furloughed. The Government is losing $200 million a week in airline ticket tax revenues, according to a press release from U.S. Rep Mike Michaud. Congress isn't due to reconvene until September, but lawmakers could pass funding reauthorization bills before coming back into session if leaders of both parties can agree, according to the paper.

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