Sam Graves' Statement after Rejection of Newest KCI Renovation Proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sam Graves issued the following statement after the latest KCI renovation plan was rejected at today's City Council Airport Committee meeting. The $335 million alternative was proposed by KC firm Crawford Architects and Councilwoman Teresa Loar on January 19.

"The bureaucracy at the Kansas City Aviation Department continues to overlook the fact that KCI's customers are overwhelmingly satisfied with the way the airport currently works," Rep. Graves said. "They disregard convenience and push for the more expensive and complicated options, and have shown no interest in seriously considering alternatives to their original billion dollar plan."

"Much like the city's claim that renovating current terminals would cost more than rebuilding the airport entirely, it's also hard to believe the estimated increases in airport traffic used to justify today's decision," Rep. Graves continued. "A project with this kind of price tag has to be done honestly and transparently, and I'm afraid that is not what we're getting with renovations at KCI."

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