Binghamton – Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell) and Broome County Executive Patrick Brennan (D-Binghamton) recognized the Greater Binghamton Airport and McFarland Johnson for receiving the 2011 Phil Brito Project of the Year Award from the New York Aviation Management Association.

The Phil Brito Project of the Year Award is presented annually for outstanding achievement in the execution of an aviation-related planning, design or design-build project for an airport within New York State. The Greater Binghamton Airport and McFarland Johnson share the award this year for their work together on a taxiway rehabilitation project that project used recycled pavements and LED lights to improve emergency response, snow removal operations and aircraft circulation fuel efficiency.

It took two years to complete and cost $8.5 million, but there were immediate short-term and long-term savings for the airport. Additionally, 95 percent of the project costs were covered with a federal grant. A state grant and airport funds were used to cover the remaining costs.

“This award recognizes the outstanding work done by the Greater Binghamton Airport and McFarland Johnson on the taxiway rehabilitation project,” said Lupardo, the Co-Chair of the New York Legislative Aviation Caucus. “With the aviation industry generating more than $50 billion in economic activity in New York State, it is important that we continue making valuable investments in the infrastructure at our airports.”

“I am very proud of Aviation Commissioner Carl Beardsley, and the staff of the Aviation Department for their vision and foresight on the taxiway rehabilitation project,” said Broome County Executive Patrick Brennan (D-Binghamton). “I want to thank the team at McFarland Johnson for the role that they played in this project. This is a prestigious award in the aviation industry and this is just one more example of the fine work being done by Broome County departments and employees.”

“Airports are very technical, safety oriented places and, as a result, they must be maintained and updated regularly through capital improvement projects,” said Carl R. Beardsley, Jr., Broome County Commissioner of Aviation. “The Taxiway A Rehabilitation was a particularly rewarding project as it benefitted the users of the Binghamton Airport on multiple levels including energy efficiency, safety and emergency response times.”

"The importance of maximizing every dollar that goes towards these types of projects is so important,” said Chad Nixon, Vice President with McFarland Johnson. “By incorporating sustainable features that make use of recycled materials and energy efficient systems, McFarland Johnson has achieved our goal of providing environmentally sensitive, innovative solutions that will reduce operating costs for Broome County and the Greater Binghamton Airport for years to come. This award is recognition of the company's approach and we are proud to accept this honor.”