CRAMER: WILLISTON AIRPORT RECEIVES $26.6 MILLION AIRPORT RELOCATION GRANT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 24, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded the City of Williston $26.6 million to relocate and expand Sloulin Field International Airport. Congressman Cramer and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta discussed the announcement in a phone call this afternoon.

“Perhaps no other city in North Dakota has seen more growth and expansion from the last decade of unprecedented oil development,” said Cramer. “Williston’s transportation infrastructure needs to modernize and expand to accommodate current and projected growth. These funds will allow Williston to build an airport to serve the business and personal travel needs of the region well into the future.”

Last year, the North Dakota Congressional delegation hosted Huerta in Williston to see firsthand the need for airport improvements and expansion. In August, Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Cramer wrote a letter to Huerta, urging him to approve the relocation of Sloulin Field.

The number of enplanements at the Sloulin Field Airport has grown from 7,800 in 2007 to 120,900 in 2014. The current runway is designed for 30-passenger turbo props and is presently accommodating 50-passenger regional jets, placing tremendous stress and degradation on the runway. The airport is presently restricted to flying aircraft no larger than 50-passenger regional jets, limiting the community’s potential for growth. The runway at the proposed new airport will be capable of servicing 70- to 220-passenger aircraft with potential operations to every hub airport in the United States.