Construction on the D2 project at Washington Dulles continues  Photos by Benet Wilson

Airport leaders yesterday urged Congress to invest in infrastructure upgrades as part of an economic stimulus bill it may consider in the "lame duck" session after next week's elections.  The story was reported by my colleague Madhu Unnikrishnan in today's Aviation Daily (subscribers only).

At a House Transportation Committee hearing, Chair Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) underscored the need to focus on transportation infrastructure investments, arguing that "we in this committee know that infrastructure creates family-wage construction jobs and spin-off benefits that ripple throughout the economy."

Construction on the tube connecting the iconic TWA Saarinen Terminal to JetBlue's new Terminal 5 at JFK Airport

This sentiment was echoed by William DeCota, aviation director for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who asked the committee to consider including "at least $600 million in the next economic stimulus package and consider increasing that amount to $1 billion." This sum could help create as many as 35,000 airport-related jobs, DeCota said.

In its last capital needs survey, Airports Council International-North America estimated that airports will need to spend $14 billion a year for the next five years on capital projects to meet growing needs. And FAA estimates that $8.4 billion will need to be spent on airfield capacity to improve airports to reduce delays and accommodate more passengers, in its new National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

X marks the spot for the new runway at Chicago O'Hare scheduled to open Nov. 20

In a letter to congressional leaders, the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) ticked off three items it claimed will help airports during challenging financial times and stimulate the economy by creating high-paying jobs: include $1 billion in additional funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP); eliminate the alternative minimum tax penalty on airport private activity bonds; and give airports greater flexibility to use Passenger Facility Charge revenue and AIP entitlements for debt service.

You can click here to read ACI-NA president Greg Principato's blog post on what the next president can do to help airports being squeezed by reduced airline capacity and the global financial and credit crisis.