By B. Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – The grants include $10-million for the runway expansion project at Lambert Airport in St. Louis.
Mineta says that despite a downturn in air traffic nationwide - and the recent decision by American Airlines to greatly reduce flights at Lambert - construction projects should be funded.
"It is unfortunate in terms of what American Airlines has announced but I know that in the long term, because of the vitality of this region and the way it's situated in the Midwest, this is an important airport and it'll still be necessary to continue building," Mineta said.
Missouri's Department of Transportation and three small airports in Missouri are other recipients of the federal funding.