Travis in line for $28 million to boost 3 projects

Travis in line for $28 million to boost 3 projects
By Ian Thompson | DAILY REPUBLIC | December 09, 2009

WASHINGTON - Travis Air Force Base could be in line to get about $28 million for three military construction projects, according to the Travis Community Consortium.

The Consortium, which represents Fairfield and other groups that support Travis, received information from its lobbyists that the funds are included in a draft version of the fiscal year 2010 Military Construction Bill Conference Report.

While stressing the report is just a draft, Consortium members expect to get confirmation on the funding for the Travis projects when the omnibus appropriations bill is taken up for consideration later this month.

'We are fairly confident that these projects will go as planned,' said Bud Ross, chairman of the Consortium.

The draft contains:

-- $6.9 million for a KC-10 Extender cargo load training facility.

-- $15.35 million for replacement of the fuel distribution system.

-- $6 million for the Taxiway Mike bypass road project.

Community leaders and the Consortium have been working to get the bypass road project funded for some time.

Delivery trucks supplying Travis presently have to cross one of the base's taxiways to get from the south gate to the rest of the base. The bypass road would allow the trucks to drive around the taxiway.

Any time the base gets its infrastructure improved, it increases Travis' ability to carry out its mission, Ross said.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.