Republic Airport was acquired by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on March 31, 1969. The MTA installed an instrument landing system (ILS) on runway 14-32, built the Republic Airport Terminal building, cooperated with the Federal Aviation Administration, which built the new 100' high control tower and got the US Government to transfer to the airport in 1971 and purchased the Lambert property on the north side of Route 109 and the Breslau Gardens property between New Highway and Route 109 in 1972.