$8.9 Million In Federal Funding Coming For Upgrades At JFK

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Friday announced $8.9 million in new federal funding for runway and airfield upgrades at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The senators believe the funding will reduce the time planes spend on the ground while also improving safety.

The announcement on Friday was cheered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Cuomo said the upgrades will help the region improve ``its ability to meet the demands of modern air travel.''

News of the additional funding came just weeks after Cuomo and Vice President Joseph Biden announced a $4 billion plan to overhaul LaGuardia Airport.

Cuomo called LaGuardia "un-New York," saying it was "almost universally decried as a poor representation of an airport, let alone a New York airport."

Both New York City airports, as well as nearby Newark Liberty International Airport, annually rank among being the worst for travel delays.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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