RDU to get stimulus money for runway lights

Morrisville, N.C. — The Raleigh-Durham International Airport will receive $4.5 million to upgrade the lights on one of its runways, officials said Wednesday.

RDU plans to replace more than 2,000 quartz lights near Terminal 2 with light-emitting diodes, spokeswoman Mindy Hamlin said. LEDs last longer and are more energy-efficient than conventional lights, and Hamlin said they would cut the airport's maintenance and energy costs.

The Federal Aviation Administration received $1.1 billion in stimulus funds to distribute to airports based on a project priority system that addresses airport safety and security, infrastructure, runway safety, increased capacity and mitigation of environmental impacts.

Asheville Regional Airport will receive $7.5 million to improve its terminal, officials said.