JWA receives $700,000 in security funds

Paul Clinton

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT -- The Federal Aviation Administration has given

about $700,000 to the airport to defray increased security costs brought

on by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials said Tuesday.

In an internal memo to the Orange County Board of Supervisors sent

Tuesday, Airport Director Alan Murphy announced that the airport has

received $701,258.

Airport officials said the money will help with the cost of

buttoning-down the airport. Last year, Murphy said security costs would

rise by $9 million in the year following the attacks.

The money is expected to arrive later this year, an airport

spokeswoman said.

The airport was able to tap into a pool of $175 million that the

Department of Defense made available. The money was included in that

department’s 2002 appropriations bill. Congress approved the money in

December.

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta earmarked the money as

supplemental funds to the bill. John Wayne was one of 317 airports

nationwide to apply for it.

Murphy submitted a grant application requesting $9 million through the

FAA. He received about 7% of his request.

“There’s a lot more we could do,” airport spokeswoman Ann McCarley

said. “But with the resources we have, we are running this airport as

safely and securely as we can.”

Airport managers have struggled to balance the airport’s books since

the terrorist attacks. They have had to grapple with the increases in

security costs -- more deputies, surveillance and screening of travelers

and luggage.

On the other side of the ledger, revenues fell off sharply after the

attacks but have since rebounded as travelers slowly make their way back

to airports and air travel.

On March 12, the board approved sweeping increases in the airport’s

parking fees to offset those costs. The board upped public parking 55%

and terminal parking 71%, moves that are expected to generate about $1.6

million.

The new parking rates go into effect April 1.

Much of the $175 million was handed to smaller airports that have been

hardest hit by the drops in air travel.

John Wayne, which served 7.3 million passengers in 2001, straddles the line between a medium- and large-hub airport.

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .