A Fight for Federal Dollars and for Bradley International's Future

WASHINGTON--Connecticut airports will need an estimated $174 million in federally-funded upgrades over the next five years, according to government projections.

Whether they will actually get that money is a matter of political projection--and thus not so easy to specify.

But there will be some significant clues in the coming days, as the Senate moves forward with an $8.1 billion bill to reauthorize federal aviation programs.

The debate in Washington comes as state officials, including Gov. Dannel Malloy, consider a new, more independent governance structure for Bradley International Airport. Such a move, particularly if it comes with increased access to federal funding for airport improvements, could be a boon to Connecticut's economy, state officials said.

"The two of them occurring simultaneously would be a really good thing for places like Bradley," said state Sen. Scott Franz, R-Greenwich, who sits on the transportation committee and previously served as the chairman of Bradley's board of directors. "It's a net win."

He and other transportation policymakers, eager to see a busier and spiffier Bradley airport, are watching the Senate debate closely.

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