Phoenix Sky Harbor is purchasing dozens more transponders to improve tarmac safety by keeping vehicles off active runways.
The Phoenix City Council approved roughly $500,000 in funding last month for 85 vehicle movement area transponders, or V-MAT units, which let air traffic controllers track ground vehicles in real time.
Mayor Kate Gallego said she was thankful the council was able to move this measure forward.
"In another state there was a really difficult crash and many people think additional transponders might have helped everyone see the airfield better and understand it," she said.
Gallego was referring to an incident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in March when a truck collided with a jet. Phoenix was one of the first cities to pilot V-MAT technologies and currently have five in operation.
-
Phoenix is asking for input on a plan to add more electric vehicle charging stations around the city. The Charging Infrastructure Action Plan finds the city has more than 900 charging station locations and more than 2,700 charging ports, but wants to add up to 1,900 more ports by 2030. -
St. Mary’s Food Bank distributes about 300,000 pounds of food each day. Most of that comes from donations, but the food bank still has to purchase supplemental items. -
The department’s first e-bike teams were deployed last month to enable rescue teams to get to rural areas with rugged terrain more quickly. The e-bikes can carry medical supplies and rescue equipment to allow firefighters to provide necessary care and manage rescue operations while waiting for additional crews. -
Honeywell Aerospace and the Phoenix Aviation department are collaborating on testing new technology to prevent collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles. The first-of-its-kind surface alert technology warns of an imminent collision before it happens. -
Diesel prices are steadily increasing, affecting school districts across the state. The price jump is especially felt in rural areas, including the Flagstaff Unified School District.
