Published: May 13, 2009 11:53 pm      

$800,000 federal grant for airport will be released, official confirms

Johnstown’s airport will get a much-needed federal grant after all.

A U.S. Department of Transportation official confirmed Wednesday that a grant of up to $800,000 will be released, though he could not say when.

The news came just a few days after airport officials disclosed that the allocation was being delayed pending a review by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“It has been decided that (the FAA) will grant the money to the airport,” said Bill Mosley, a Department of Transportation spokesman.

A string of airport-related stories has appeared in the national media, portraying the airport as a seldom-used facility that has received excessive amounts of federal cash through U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown.

While airport officials have vehemently defended their operations, FAA administrators apparently took notice of the bad publicity and reconsidered a previously announced grant from the federal stimulus program.

Airport leaders argued that the cash was necessary to help resurface the facility’s only crosswinds runway, which last was paved in 1985. They also said Murtha’s office had nothing to do with the application for that funding.

In the end, the FAA apparently agreed.

“The bottom line is, it deserved the money based on the merits,” U.S. Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jill Zuckman told The Washington Post. “It’s not an earmark.”

Contacted on Wednesday, airport Manager Scott Voelker said he still had not received any formal notification from the FAA that the money would be released.

On Monday, officials said the paving project had been pushed back to mid-June.

The job will not affect regular flight service. But a portion of the paving work near the main runway will have to be done at night in compliance with safety regulations, officials said.