Airports are the front doors to our communities

One of the state’s top transportation policy leaders, Janet Ho coordinates with the Port Authority to ensure that the region’s airports run smoothly. That involves ensuring that nearby roads and state-run highways are properly maintained and that the airports receive funding for infrastructure improvements. Ho most recently testified at the state Senate Transportation Committee in support of passenger rail service. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tell me about what you do as a state Department of Transportation assistant commissioner in terms of airports and aviation. What are you focusing on at the moment?

The state Department of Transportation’s Aviation Bureau routinely interacts with airports around the state in a variety of fashions, including – and most especially – the administering of grants and other financial assistance to airports for capital improvements. (The department) also helps ensure that FAA-required airport safety inspections are completed and undertakes planning and economic studies as needed. Additionally, (the department) owns and operates Republic Airport in Suffolk County, the state’s third-busiest airport, and home to 13 flight schools – including (Farmingdale State College) – that train our next generation of commercial pilots.

Do you interact at all with the Port Authority on the redevelopments of the metro area’s big three airports, in particular LaGuardia and Kennedy?

NYSDOT communicates regularly with the Port Authority and coordinates with the agency on projects that impact NYSDOT-controlled roads and infrastructure, such as the Van Wyck Expressway.

What else is the governor focusing on or prioritizing in terms of airports and aviation in New York? 

Gov. (Kathy) Hochul understands that airports serve as front doors to their communities and are economic engines for the entire state. That is why the governor has made investing in airports a priority, especially in upstate New York. The governor’s most recent Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization competition awarded $230 million to update and modernize nine upstate airports. These investments include $60 million to expand the main terminal at the Albany International Airport, $32 million to upgrade facilities at the Greater Binghamton Airport and $20 million to improve the passenger experience at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Additionally, 36 public-use airports across New York state were recently awarded $49 million for strategic infrastructure enhancements as part of the Aviation Capital Grant Program.