CPA earmarks $1-M for airport CIP
The Commonwealth Ports Authority has set aside $1 million to finance the Capital Improvement Projects at the airport division in Saipan, Rota and Tinian for Fiscal Year 2001.
Of this amount, Saipan has the biggest share with $817,154; $129,356 for Rota and $94,450 for Tinian. This amount is on top of the $8.1 million to be funded by 702 CIP Funds for various CPA projects.
So far, only Saipan International Airport is the only one that serves international air carriers. Rota and Tinian airports only serve two commuter carriers between Saipan and Guam.
At the Seaport division, an estimated $68,400 has been set aside to finance projects at Saipan Harbor which is in addition to the $729,000 to be funded by the 1998 bond money.
The ports authority hopes to carry out the following projects for FY 2001 at the seaport division: installation of a new fire fighting facility at the port of Saipan and utilize seawater to feed the existing fire hydrants along the dock berthing areas and container yard to meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations.
Fence will also be constructed at the Charlie Dock to separate Tinian Shipping area from the cargo expanded area at the main Charlie Dock.
At the airport division, the ports authority plans to improve airline incentive program for better passenger traffic. In relation to this, CPA would like to work closely with the Marianas Visitors Authority, air carriers, hotels and travel agents for more direct international flights and or new carriers to come to the CNMI.
The management also would like to promote leasing of CPA lands for executive hotel development. For convenience of travelers, management would like to initiate digitized flight information system as an additional service to the public. Direct phone lines to hotels for arriving passengers will also be installed.
