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May 19, 2009
Airport to Nowhere, Part II?
Who knew Rep. Mike Michaud was so powerful? After all, John Murtha only got $800,000 for his airport.
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle is getting $2.5 million in federal stimulus money to extend its parallel taxiway.Michaud goes on to say the funds will create jobs and improve infrastructure. Without a doubt, it will provide a short-term stimulus to the economically depressed region, but is that particular airport worth $2.5 million of taxpayer money?The announcement Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud said the project will provide the airport with a full parallel taxiway, improving operational safety and efficiency.
Presque Isle is a nice little city (well, city by Maine standards) in Aroostook County. Its population in the 2000 census was 9,511. That's not a lot of people. Perhaps, though, one should judge whether the money is being spent wisely by how many flights go in and out of the airport per year.
That number? Not so big. Last year, the number of flights was 4,522. On average, that's about 12 a day, or $552 per flight.
Feel like your money is being well spent?
Cross-posted at The Greenroom.
Posted by slublog at May 19, 2009 09:25 PM
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Comments
The runway in Bangor is already long enough, (capable for a shuttle landing) and we have Loring Air Force Base. (capable of the same) We don't need to extend Presque Isle's runway, I doubt we have enough people going there in a year to justify it.
It's a wonderful waste of money.
Posted by: coldmexican at May 20, 2009 11:03 PM
Flew to Presque Isle once from Bangor in October for an outreach clinic. Driving sheets of rain on the way up and snow on the way back that afternoon. All this in a tiny prop plane. Never again!
Posted by: Jim at May 21, 2009 09:16 PM