PC Airport gets DOT grant
Department of Transportation has approved a $26,264,212 grant for the Phase 1 construction of the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport.
“This grant will allow for the construction to begin on the new Panama City-Bay County airport, which will increase airport capacity and provide the Panhandle region the economic development that its residents are seeking," said U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) in a news release Wednesday. "I congratulate the working relationship between Bay County’s local leaders, the FAA, business community and environmentalists who have worked tirelessly to make this project a successful addition to this region of Florida."
This project will replace the existing airport site that is constrained and cannot accommodate the forecast traffic growth.
The new airport is necessary to accommodate the 6,800-foot runway identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as being needed for regional jet and narrow body jet aircraft operations through the current planning period (2018.)
It will also allow for standard Runway Safety Areas that are not practical to construct at the existing airport site.