At a news conference held Friday, September 18 at Collin County Regional Airport (CCRA) in McKinney, U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3^rd Dist.-Texas) presented a jumbo check announcing a $5 million federal cash infusion for the construction of a new runway to meet government safety regulations.

“Collin County continues to win accolades for being home to award-winning cities while maintaining fast-paced growth.  It is only fitting that the local airport improves to better meet the needs of the expanding community,” said Johnson, who represents portions of Collin and Dallas counties. 

According to the U.S Census Bureau, McKinney ranked as the nation’s fastest-growing city between 2000 and 2007, with a population that more than doubled to 115,620. 

Local leaders attending the event included:  U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall (4^th Dist.-Texas), McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller, Collin County Judge Keith Self, State Representative Ken Paxton, and Glynn Raymer with the McKinney Airport Development Corporation.  Raymer accepted the check on behalf of the airport. 

The runway is a multi-year improvement project that started in the fall of 2005 and experts predict the project will be completed in late 2012.  This federal infusion of $5,555,556 represents the third allocation of the Airport Improvement Program funds.  The first allocation was made in FY07 for $4.91 million; the second allocation was received in FY08 for $5 million. 

The runway is being constructed to allow Collin County Regional Airport to meet federal design and safety standards for runway–taxiway separation distance.  To use a local analogy, an airport runway is similar to Central Expressway; the taxiway is similar to the access road; and the short connecting taxiways that link them to one another serve the same purpose as off-ramps.   

The new current runway measures 7,000’ x 100’ and is located 300’ from the current parallel taxiway. Once the new runway is completed and operational, the airport’s current runway will become the airport’s parallel taxiway.  The new runway will measure 7,000’ x 150’ and will be located 550’ from the existing runway (future taxiway).  This increased separation will enhance airport safety for the operation of large aircraft currently operating at the airport and for larger aircraft in the future.  The new runway’s additional width is considered to be a “commercial” standard and will permit the operation of larger, safer, quieter aircraft at CCRA to include commercial passenger aircraft.   

Assuming all goes according to plan -- based on project cost estimates and the project’s multi-year funding plan, FAA has committed to investing $33 million over a 7-year period. (Six years at $5 million each year and one year of $3 million.)  The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) aviation has committed approximately $11 million in three multi-year allocations. McKinney Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has committed $7 million for non-federal and state eligible costs (extra 50’ of runway width and increased weight-bearing capacity, such as thicker pavement) over three years.   The City will have committed approximately $5 million once all reimbursements for land acquisitions are received. 

“We greatly appreciate and acknowledge the support of Congressman Johnson and our Congressional delegation in Washington with the continued generous allocation of grant funds for the runway improvements of Collin County Regional Airport. With the FAA’s support and support from our Congressional leaders, CCRA will continue to expand its available services to our corporate citizens and be a true economic engine to our City and County.  We look forward to the completion of our runway improvement project which would not be possible without the continued support of Congressman Johnson, the FAA and TXDOT aviation,” said McKinney Mayor Loughmiller.     

“We sincerely appreciate to support of our Congressman, Sam Johnson.  His leadership and assistance over the years have been invaluable to the success of the airport,” said John Wroten, Chairman, McKinney Airport Development Corporation (MADC). 

“Congressman Johnson has always been there for us. He was instrumental in acquiring our contract tower in the late 90s and for the recently completed runway and taxiway pavement rehabilitation project. His support for this new runway project will be a key to its success,” Ken Wiegand, Executive Director, Collin County Regional Airport.  

Collin County has received tremendous recognition for its reputation for offering a good quality of life while experiencing exponential growth.  For example, CNN Money.com’s ranked Collin County 5th in U.S. for “Counties with the Best Job Growth.”  Forbes Magazine selected four Collin County cities as part of their series “America’s Best 25 Places to Move - 2009” -- Allen (19^th), Frisco (7^th), McKinney (9^th), and Plano (25^th).  

CCRA generates $3 million a year in ad valorem taxes of which about $2 million goes to the McKinney Independent School District.  CCRA is home to several of the busiest corporate flight departments in the Metroplex and is one of the fastest growing of 21 general aviation reliever airports in Texas with more than 103,000 annual operations.  In addition, CCRA is considered a prime candidate as a future air carrier airport in the Metroplex in the next five or six years.

Johnson represents portions of Dallas and Collin counties.