Twenty-one projects have been selected to receive funding to enhance safety and service at public-use airports in the state through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program.  
The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, which manages the program, received 118 applications for projects totaling more than $42 million.
Recognizing the needs of continued investment in aviation infrastructure, the 2010 Kansas Legislature passed the T-WORKS transportation program and gave the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) a funding level of $5 million a year.
“The project selection process remains highly competitive,” said Jesse R. Romo, KDOT Director of Aviation. “One of the challenges is to balance the needs of local growth while maintaining the existing system at a high level; and the selected projects help us do just that.”
Under guidelines of the program, project sponsors are required to pay a minimum of five percent of the total project costs up to a maximum of 50 percent, depending on project category. The awarded projects represent approximately $1.4 million in total state contributions. The remaining projects will be announced at a later date under Phase II of the program.
“We are excited to announce these projects that demonstrate our commitment as a state to the airport system,” said Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King.  “These are great projects to kick off the 2016 KAIP program.”
The following is a list of the FY 2016 airport improvement projects and the funding requested:
Benton, Stearman Field – pavement maintenance and repair, $7,850
Colby – pavement maintenance and repair, $5,175
Dodge City – planning, airspace protection, $38,000
Ellsworth – pavement maintenance and repair, $123,750
Fredonia – safety/mitigation, tree removal, $31,500
Jetmore – modernization, remark runway, $22,500
Kinsley – self-service fuel system, $93,500
La Crosse – pavement maintenance and repair, $22,500
Moundridge – pavement maintenance and repair, $88,881
Neodesha – self-service fuel system, $100,000
Oakley – self-service fuel system, $100,000
Oberlin – design/safety enhancement, runway intersection, $67,500
Oberlin – land acquisition, $135,000
Ottawa – on-site weather reporting system, $108,000
Pittsburg – design runway and taxiway, $100,000
Pratt – on-site weather reporting system, $108,000
Rose Hill, Cook Airfield – pavement maintenance and repair, $5,400
St. Francis – pavement maintenance and repair, $27,000
Sublette – pavement maintenance and repair, $36,000
Sublette – on-site weather reporting system, $108,000
Washington – pavement maintenance and repair, $59,130