FAA Approves
$8 Million for Acoustical Treatment
And $7 Million for Security at Mineta San José Airport
San José, CA ---- Congressmembers Zoe
Lofgren and Mike Honda along with San José Mayor Ron Gonzales announced
today that Mineta San José International Airport will receive a
total of $15 million in grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration
to further protect neighborhoods from airport noise and to support airport
security improvements.
The acoustical treatment program (ACT) received $8 million for reimbursement
for sound insulation currently in progress on 300 homes in San José
and Santa Clara. This funding follows the FAA acceptance of the airport’s
updated noise exposure map that determines eligibility for the ACT program.
The purpose of the ACT program is to reduce the noise level in a home
and help improve the living environment.
In addition, Mineta San José Airport will receive a $7 million
grant to implement various security enhancements. A portion of this funding
reimburses the City of San José for security improvements already
completed since September 2001.
“This federal funding will greatly reduce the impact of aircraft
noise for airport neighbors,” said Lofgren. “The additional
treatment made possible by the new map and this grant underscores our
desire to ensure a better quality of life for residents in San José
and Santa Clara who experience noise from the airport.”
According to Mayor Gonzales, “Our airport is committed to being
a good neighbor, and our goal is to do all we can to help our residents
get a good night’s sleep. This grant will allow us to continue providing
effective sound insulation to homes affected by aircraft noise.”
The FAA approval allows homes located within the area where testing
shows aircraft noise levels exceed 65 decibels on the ground to receive
full sound insulation, which includes new windows, new doors, air conditioning
and attic insulation.
Homes within the noise contour are located primarily in San José’s
Guadalupe/ Washington and Rosemary Gardens neighborhoods and the Fairway
Glen area in Santa Clara. Other eligible homes are located in the San
José neighborhoods of Ryland-Vendome and Market-Almaden. These
new 300 homes are in addition to the 1400 homes that have already been
treated with airport sound insulation. San José will seek additional
grant funding to acoustically treat 900 more homes now eligible by the
updated noise exposure map.
Among the airport security improvements being funded by the $8 million
FAA grant are the following projects:
- Design work associated with federal requirements for 100 percent
baggage screening and passenger screening improvements
- Upgrades to perimeter airport fencing
- Communications security system upgrades
- Fingerprint equipment
- Reimbursements for modifications made to improve passenger flow through
security checkpoints
“Because the airport is located in the capital of Silicon Valley,
Mineta San José International Airport should be in the lead using
the best available technologies to ensure a safe and secure flying experience,”
added Lofgren. “The work of my colleague Mike Honda and Mayor Gonzales
earlier this year on aviation security and technology is an excellent
example of the leadership from our community that serves the nation.”
Honda and Gonzales co-chaired the Blue Ribbon Task Force on aviation security
and technology that submitted its final report to the FAA and Transportation
Security Administration in June.
“We will balance airport security and passenger convenience, and
this federal grant will help us put the best ideas available in aviation
security into practice in San José,” said Gonzales.
Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is owned
and operated by the City of San José. Daily nonstop service is
offered to 33 domestic and international cities. In 2001, SJC served 13.1
million passengers. For more information about the Norman Y. Mineta San
José International Airport, call 408-501-7600 or visit www.sjc.org.
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