SPRINGFIELD — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is hosting public meetings to provide Ohio’s 97 publicly-owned general aviation airports and their local communities an opportunity to share their ideas.
In 2012, the FAA invested about $26 million in Ohio’s general aviation airports, and ODOT issued about $725,000 in grant funding. These combined funds addressed only a fraction of the requested needs, ODOT says.
The ODOT-led Ohio Airports Focus Study, which kicked-off last September, is identifying what types of airport services are provided throughout Ohio today, and what gaps need to be filled in the future. This system-wide look will ensure Ohioans have convenient access to a variety of aviation services – and provide ODOT and FAA another tool in deciding how to spend limited grant funds.
“Budgets are tight these days and we are all making decisions about how to get the most out of every dollar we spend,” said ODOT Aviation Administrator James Bryant. “Airports are no different, and we are eager to hear ideas from airport operators and local officials on how best to improve the future of aviation in Ohio.”
The public meetings serving the Miami Valley will take place:
• Tuesday, September 17, 2 – 4 pm at Avetec, Main Conference Room, 4170 Allium Court, Springfield, OH 45505
• Thursday, September 19, 2 – 4 pm at the Warren County Career Center, Commons Area, 3525 North State Route 48, Lebanon, OH 45036
Other meetings are scheduled in Waverly, Brecksville, Cambridge, Delaware and Findlay.
Beginning Tuesday, September 10, all public meeting materials and an online survey will be available at www.AirportsFocusStudy.ohio.gov.
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